RELIEVE Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'relieve' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of relieve are allay , alleviate , assuage , lighten , and mitigate . While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable. // took an aspirin to relieve the pain

Q: When is it sensible to use 'allay' instead of 'relieve'?

The words allay and relieve can be used in similar contexts, but allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms. // allayed their fears

Q: When would 'alleviate' be a good substitute for 'relieve'?

Although the words alleviate and relieve have much in common, alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. // the lotion alleviated the itching

Q: When could 'assuage' be used to replace 'relieve'?

The synonyms assuage and relieve are sometimes interchangeable, but assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable. // ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

Q: When might 'lighten' be a better fit than 'relieve'?

The words lighten and relieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight. // good news would lighten our worries

Q: When is 'mitigate' a more appropriate choice than 'relieve'?

While in some cases nearly identical to relieve , mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful. // the need to mitigate barbaric laws

relieve

verb

ri-ˈlēv

Definition of relieve next

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe an ice pack will relieve the swelling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to rid

to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers the bellhop relieved him of his luggage and led him to the elevator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to replace

to take the place of at daybreak a soldier arrived to relieve the one who had spent the night on guard duty

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word relieve different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of relieve are allay, alleviate, assuage, lighten, and mitigate. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

When is it sensible to use allay instead of relieve?

The words allay and relieve can be used in similar contexts, but allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

When would alleviate be a good substitute for relieve?

Although the words alleviate and relieve have much in common, alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

When could assuage be used to replace relieve?

The synonyms assuage and relieve are sometimes interchangeable, but assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When might lighten be a better fit than relieve?

The words lighten and relieve are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When is mitigate a more appropriate choice than relieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to relieve, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of relieve Teng, who has started and relieved in his professional career, threw a career-high 136 1/3 innings with Double-A Richmond in 2022. —

Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026 The infrastructure response will compound the pressure rather than relieve it. —

Vinesh Karthic Padmanabhan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Emergency crews spent several days cooling down the tank and eventually discovering that a leak relieved some of the pressure and eliminated the threat of an explosion. —

Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 29 June 2026 History demonstrates that Tehran uses negotiations primarily to buy time, relieve pressure, and rebuild its capabilities. —

Hussain Abdul-Hussain, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for relieve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relieve

Verb

The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill on June 23 seeking to alleviate a growing housing crisis by streamlining construction regulations, encouraging local innovation, and limiting investor purchases of homes, among other steps.

— Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 24 June 2026
According to the European Commission, the duty-free de minimis exemption was introduced in order to alleviate administrative burdens for customs authorities and businesses, but the digitalization of customs procedures has ameliorated that issue.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

For every Founding Father looking to free the colonies from British tyranny, there was a Larry (often called Lawrence here) who suggests that sharing desserts and umbrellas should be prohibited by the Declaration of Independence.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 June 2026
Such maneuvering could then potentially free the Heat from being hard-capped at the first tax apron (although still highly unlikely).

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2026

Definition of free

Verb

The project includes replacing ageing electrical wiring, pipes and heating.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Relatives identified the food vendor as Arabelia Martinez, 62, and have raised more than $100,000 to pay for therapy and replace the items damaged in the incident.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of replace

Verb

Rodríguez said on Saturday night that 24 countries had sent aid and more than 2,700 rescuers were in the country to help with search operations.

— Alfredo Meza, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Batches of limited stock sales will be allowed in the coming months, however, and some real estate agents and bankers are putting together workarounds to help expectant millionaires leverage their future gains to secure loans.

— Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of help

Verb

China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
State Attorney’s Office prosecutors originally charged Bradly Shawn Shadduck, 56, with second-degree murder, but the grand jury indictment supersedes that charge, and he is now being held without bond on premeditated murder.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

Definition of supersede

Verb

Better yet, soothing ingredients like chamomile flower water and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid keep skin feeling comfortable, so your complexion looks fresh—not overly matte.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 June 2026
The hummingbird rain chain creates a soothing soundtrack on rainy days and makes a beautiful addition to a front porch.

— Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 24 June 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

While the care tax in the workplace largely falling on women’s shoulders is a systemic and a bias issue, there are some steps both individuals and organizations can take to help mitigate this trend.

— Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
In handing down the verdict, the judges said his actions ran counter to Indonesia’s anti-graft efforts and were carried out systematically, while noting as a mitigating factor that the former minister had no prior criminal conviction.

— Chandra Asmara, Fortune, 30 June 2026