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

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 The deployment of the giant carrier with nearly 100,000-ton displacement is aimed at relieving the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for over 250 days. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 Iderman said he was relieved after receiving an email Friday afternoon saying that the club sustained little to no damage. — Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026 The evidence for magnesium spray relieving leg cramps remains thin, and researchers have not confirmed that transdermal magnesium works the same way as oral magnesium. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief is designed to soothe and moisturize the eyes, helping relieve irritation, burning and mild dryness, according to the product’s website. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relieve

Recent Examples of Synonyms for relieve

Verb

He was appointed as a special advisor for water infrastructure after last year’s rupture and prepared a report for the government on improvements to alleviate the island’s water problems.

— Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
But the Cloaca Maxima was primarily designed to drain marshland and alleviate flooding.

— Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

Other goals, like a lactation room, upgrading the fire alarm system to a voice evacuation system for the whole building and replacing the elevator came later.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
Summary Despite the digital shift, leading retailers are leveraging AI to enhance human customer connections, not replace them.

— John Hall, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of replace

Verb

Having Maxx Crosby back on the field will help, but improvements need to be made if the Raiders want to be competitive.

— Sam Warren, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
The committee would eventually disband without an answer, despite the fact that Selig had helped engineer the sale of the team in 2005 to Lew Wolff, an old University of Wisconsin frat buddy, and John Fisher.

— Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of help

Verb

Genesis also argued that the county lacked authority to revoke the permits because federal law supersedes local regulations.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
However, such designs may now be superseded by austere sites that allow agents to act efficiently on our behalf.

— George C. Lee II, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of supersede

Verb

There might be a best practice emerging with general rules to live by, but the exact products and ingredients that trigger or soothe your skin will be highly individualized.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
And many people feel a teaspoon of honey or perhaps tea with honey can soothe a scratchy throat.

— Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

Though the threat of an explosion was mitigated in early June, cleanup didn't begin until the very end of the month.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Under current law, the President has the flexibility to order a limited drawdown, releasing up to 30 million barrels over a 60-day period, to mitigate sudden supply shocks without declaring a full-scale national emergency.

— Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of mitigate

Verb

Anti-anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Librium, Xanax and Valium, can work quickly to ease extreme worry, fear, social anxiety or panic attacks.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Bidets may also ease discomfort from hemorrhoids, fistulas and anal fissures, and help people with chronic diarrhea or conditions that require frequent wiping.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of ease

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“Relieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relieve. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of relieve

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