Definition of: alleviate

(ə·lē′vē·āt) v.t. ·at·ed, ·at·ing
To make lighter or easier to bear; relieve, as pain; mitigate. [<L alleviatus, pp. of alleviare <ad- to + levis light] Synonyms: abate, allay, assuage, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, reduce, relieve, remove, soften. Alleviate is less than relieve; relieve, ordinarily, less than remove. Assuage is to sweeten; mitigate, to make milder; moderate, to bring within measure; abate, to beat down and so make less. We abate a fever; lessen anxiety; moderate passions or desires; lighten burdens; mitigate or alleviate pain; reduce inflammation; soften, assuage, or moderate grief; we lighten or mitigate punishments; we relieve suffering. Compare ALLAY. Antonyms: aggravate, augment, embitter, enhance, heighten, increase, intensify, magnify.
—al·le′vi·a′tion noun
—al·le′·vi·a′tor noun