ameliorate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ameliorate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the improvement of a situation or condition. Example: "The new policies were implemented to ameliorate the living conditions of the residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The new $750 supplement attached to the maximum rate of FTB Part A for single parents of children aged 6-12 intendedded to ameliorate this, but the yearly loss is in the thousands.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead, according to Nick Faith, director of the Westminster Policy Institute, whose founders include former Downing Street adviser Sean Worth, the government will seek to ameliorate the hurt that is inflicted through a major housebuilding programme, while hoping that economic growth will ease the challenge by bringing in greater tax receipts.

The Guardian

She said on a conference call that the decline in display advertising highlighted "the fact that we need to work faster to ameliorate the negative trends.

The Guardian - Tech

This social chapter was a strategy to ameliorate the impact of the move towards full economic integration signalled by the creation in 1992 of single European market.

The Guardian - Opinion

And what, if anything, can be done to ameliorate the wars of religion?

The Economist

For better or for worse, affirmative action in the educational context has never been approved as a device to ameliorate America's race problem writ large.

The Economist

Anthozoans can go into "starvation mode" for some months, waiting for conditions to ameliorate.

The Economist

Mr Cameron is now making the same dual offer, with several of the original ramifications.Take the Tories' noisy vows to ameliorate poverty.

The Economist

More trees would ameliorate these difficulties, trapping sediments and nutrients as well as regulating the supply of fresh water.

The Economist

We can be a leader in using peaceful means to resolve the dispute, or to ameliorate it.

The Economist

Ms Truss, one of the stars of the 2010 parliamentary intake, and Esther McVey, a telegenic Liverpudlian employment minister who has been bumped up to the cabinet, are similarly promising, if untested.Blooding them now looks like a fairly low-risk way to try out new talent, which might also ameliorate the fusty, grey-suited image of the Tories a bit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ameliorate" when you want to convey a sense of gradual improvement or making something better that was previously in a negative state. It is more formal than "improve".

Common error

Avoid using "ameliorate" in very casual or informal writing. Simpler words like "improve" or "help" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The verb "ameliorate" functions to express the action of making something better or more tolerable, especially something that is bad or unsatisfactory. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and applicability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "ameliorate" means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science, indicating a formal or scientific register. When writing, use "ameliorate" to describe a gradual improvement of something in a negative state, but avoid it in very casual contexts. Alternatives like "improve", "alleviate", and "mitigate" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improve

A direct synonym, often used in more general contexts.

ameliorate the impact

Specifies making a negative impact less severe.

ameliorate the effects

Specifies making a negative set of consequences less severe.

alleviate

Focuses on reducing suffering or intensity.

mitigate

Emphasizes lessening the severity of something negative.

ease

Suggests making something less difficult or burdensome.

lessen

A more general term for reducing in degree or intensity.

relieve

Similar to alleviate, focusing on providing relief.

rectify

Implies correcting something that is wrong.

remedy

Suggests providing a cure or solution to a problem.

FAQs

How do you use "ameliorate" in a sentence?

You can use "ameliorate" to describe making a bad situation better, as in, "The new policies were designed to "ameliorate" the negative effects of poverty".

What can I say instead of "ameliorate"?

Alternatives to "ameliorate" include "improve", "alleviate", or "mitigate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "ameliorate" and "improve"?

"Ameliorate" suggests making something better that was previously bad or unsatisfactory. "Improve" is a more general term for making something better, regardless of its initial state.

Is "ameliorate" formal or informal?

"Ameliorate" is generally considered a more formal word. In informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "help" or "ease" might be more suitable.