Alleviation is a word that is often used to describe the reduction or relief of something that is causing discomfort or distress. It is a term that is commonly used in medical contexts, but can also be applied to other areas of life where people are seeking to reduce or eliminate negative experiences.
Definitions
The word alleviation is defined as the act of making something less severe or more bearable. It can also refer to the process of reducing or eliminating pain, discomfort, or suffering.
Origin
The word alleviation comes from the Latin word alleviare, which means “to lighten” or “to make easier.” The word has been in use in English since the 15th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word alleviation means “the act of making something less severe or more bearable.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “the act of reducing the severity or intensity of something.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “the act of making something less severe or less difficult to deal with.”
Associations
Alleviation is often associated with the relief of physical pain, but it can also be used to describe the reduction of emotional or psychological distress. It is a term that is commonly used in medical contexts, but can also be applied to other areas of life where people are seeking to reduce or eliminate negative experiences.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of alleviation include relief, mitigation, easing, soothing, and calming.
Antonyms
Antonyms of alleviation include exacerbation, intensification, aggravation, and worsening.
The same root words
Words that share the same root as alleviation include alleviate, which means to make something less severe or more bearable, and alleviator, which is a person or thing that alleviates.
Example Sentences
- The medication provided some alleviation of her pain.
- The new policy is aimed at the alleviation of poverty in the community.
- The therapist provided some emotional alleviation for her anxiety.
- The cooling breeze brought some alleviation from the heat.
- The charity’s efforts have provided some alleviation for the suffering of refugees.