ameliorate

[ uh-meel-yuh-reyt, uh-mee-lee-uh- ]
/ əˈmil yəˌreɪt, əˈmi li ə- /

verb (used with or without object), a·mel·io·rat·ed, a·mel·io·rat·ing.

to make or become better, more bearable, or more satisfactory; improve: strategies to ameliorate negative effects on the environment.
Also meliorate.

Origin of ameliorate

First recorded in 1760–70; a-5 + meliorate

OTHER WORDS FROM ameliorate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ameliorate

ameliorate obviate vitiate

Example sentences from the Web for ameliorate

British Dictionary definitions for ameliorate

ameliorate
/ (əˈmiːljəˌreɪt) /

verb

to make or become better; improve

Derived forms of ameliorate

ameliorable (əˈmiːljərəbəl), adjective ameliorant, noun ameliorative, adjective ameliorator, noun

Word Origin for ameliorate

C18: from meliorate, influenced by French améliorer to improve, from Old French ameillorer to make better, from meillor better, from Latin melior

usage for ameliorate

Ameliorate is often wrongly used where alleviate is meant. Ameliorate is properly used to mean `improve', not `make easier to bear', so one should talk about alleviating pain or hardship, not ameliorating it