GRE vocabulary
alleviate
to make suffering or a problem less severe
Word origin: From Latin alleviare, to lighten (ad- to plus levis light).
Usage & nuance
Using “alleviate” well
Alleviate means to lessen the severity of suffering or a problem without necessarily removing it. It reduces intensity rather than eliminating the cause entirely.
Keep going
See all More GRE words starting with A
abase
to lower in rank, dignity, or self-respect
abash
to make someone feel embarrassed or ashamed
abate
to lessen in intensity or amount
abdicate
to formally give up power or responsibility
aberrant
departing from what is normal or expected
aberration
a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected
abeyance
a state of temporary suspension or inactivity
abhor
to regard with strong disgust or hatred
Common questions
Questions about “alleviate”
Alleviate (verb) means to make suffering or a problem less severe
Here is alleviate used in an example sentence: "The new medication helped alleviate her chronic pain." Another example: "The grant was intended to alleviate overcrowding in the city's overburdened shelters."
Common synonyms for alleviate include ease, relieve, mitigate.
Antonyms of alleviate include aggravate, worsen, intensify.
Alleviate pairs with ease, relieve, and mitigate in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms aggravate, worsen, and intensify signal the opposite movement, a common reversal in contrast sentences.
Yes. Alleviate is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.
Learn words the way the GRE tests them.
Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.