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Ameliorate

Verb

IPA /əˈmiːliəreɪt/

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Meaning in plain English

To make something better or more tolerable; to improve.

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Pronunciation

Ameliorate/əˈmiːliəreɪt/

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  1. A cold, uncomfortable room

  2. Heating improves conditions

Better heating can ameliorate poor living conditions.

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  1. The new policies were designed to ameliorate working conditions for employees.
  2. Volunteers worked tirelessly to ameliorate the suffering of flood victims.

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The new policies were designed to ________ working conditions for employees.
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Ameliorate — To make something better or more tolerable; to improve.

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To make something better or more tolerable; to improve.

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Word origin

An altered form of meliorate, meaning to improve, influenced by French améliorer.

Did you know?

Ameliorate is formal. In everyday English, improve or make better is often a simpler choice.

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Ameliorate

/əˈmiːliəreɪt/ (Verb)

“Formal: put the problem or situation directly after ameliorate. It means improving something that is bad or unsatisfactory.”

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