verb

ameliorate

uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt

Ameliorate (verb) means to make a bad or unpleasant situation better, or less severe. Example: “The grant was meant to ameliorate the worst effects of the closures.”

verb

formal To make a bad or unpleasant situation better, or less severe.

"The grant was meant to ameliorate the worst effects of the closures."

"Nothing they did ameliorated the shortage."

formal To become better; to improve.

"Conditions in the camp slowly ameliorated over the winter."

How to use ameliorate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make a bad situation less bad.

When to use it

Formal; strongly associated with policy, academic and legal writing.

Memory tip

It needs something bad as its object. 'Ameliorate the crisis' works; 'ameliorate the party' does not.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

alleviate → mitigate → meliorate → emaciate

Common pairings

ameliorate the effects ameliorate conditions ameliorate the impact do little to ameliorate

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The grant was meant to _____ the worst effects of the closures.

Etymology

From Latin melior 'better', via French améliorer.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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improve alleviate mitigate ease relieve get better pick up

Antonyms

worsen aggravate exacerbate deteriorate decline

Related words

still rest fall increase hurt accept aid improve

Rhymes for ameliorate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

See all rhymes for ameliorate →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ameliorate and alleviate?

Alleviate is about lessening something painful, such as suffering, pressure or symptoms, and leaves the underlying problem in place. Ameliorate is broader and suggests genuinely improving a bad situation, not just softening how it feels.

What is the difference between ameliorate and improve?

Improve is the everyday word and can apply to anything, good or bad. Ameliorate is formal and needs a negative starting point: you ameliorate hardship or overcrowding, but you improve your handwriting.

Is ameliorate too formal for everyday writing?

Often, yes. It is at home in policy documents, academic writing and legal prose, but in ordinary writing 'improve' or 'ease' will usually read better.

What is the meaning of ameliorate?

"ameliorate" (verb) means to make a bad or unpleasant situation better, or less severe.

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