Synonym Chooser

How is the word ameliorate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ameliorate are better, help, and improve. While all these words mean "to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard," ameliorate implies making more tolerable or acceptable conditions that are hard to endure.

tried to ameliorate the lives of people in the tenements

When is help a more appropriate choice than ameliorate?

The meanings of help and ameliorate largely overlap; however, help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.

a coat of paint would help that house

How are the words improve and better related as synonyms of ameliorate?

Both improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad.

measures to further improve the quality of medical care
immigrants hoping to better their lot

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ameliorate However, the analysis does not include increases in wage rises that ameliorate some of these costs. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 But Turton said All3Media’s size and production capacity — the group operates across six countries — gives it economies of scale that ameliorate the inherent risk. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Oct. 2024 The company is looking for local European manufacturing to ameliorate this situation, however. James Morris, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 The CrowdStrike outage has caused cascading failures across multiple industries, with myriad airlines issuing ground stops, broadcast networks going off-air and critical services rushing to ameliorate the damage. Rohan Goswami,ashley Capoot,ruxandra Iordache,jenni Reid,annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for ameliorate 

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Cite this Entry

“Ameliorate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ameliorate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on ameliorate

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