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Word of the Day

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

ameliorate

/əˈmiːliəreɪt/verb

To make something better; to improve or enhance a situation, condition, or problem.

Etymology

From French "améliorer," ultimately from Latin "melior" meaning "better." The word appeared in English in the mid-18th century and literally means "to make better."

Usage Examples

  1. "The new policies were designed to ameliorate working conditions for all employees."

  2. "Medicine can ameliorate symptoms, but lifestyle changes address the root cause."

  3. "Community programs aim to ameliorate poverty through education and job training."

Synonyms

  • Improve
  • Better
  • Enhance
  • Upgrade
  • Alleviate

Antonyms

  • Worsen
  • Deteriorate
  • Aggravate
  • Exacerbate
  • Impair

Fun Facts

  • "Ameliorate" is often used in formal contexts like policy discussions, medical literature, and academic writing.
  • The opposite process - making things worse - is "pejoration" (from Latin "pejor" meaning "worse").
  • Environmental scientists frequently use this word when discussing climate change mitigation strategies.

Word Family

  • Amelioration (noun): The act of making something better
  • Ameliorative (adjective): Tending to ameliorate
  • Ameliorator (noun): One who ameliorates
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