lessen hardship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessen hardship" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to reduce difficulties or challenges faced by individuals or groups. Example: "The new policy aims to lessen hardship for low-income families by providing additional financial support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

During weak economic times, they argue, worsening fiscal balances can be a side effect of policies that lessen hardship, like tax cuts and extensions of unemployment benefits.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

While this is a vital goal of development work, humanitarian action holds an important place in lessening hardships and preparing the ground for more robust recovery and risk management in the future.

Unicef

That the shutdown seems to be over after two weeks will substantially lessen the hardship.

The New York Times

The C.B.O. has looked at the economic effects of unemployment insurance and noted that extending unemployment benefits would "reduce the intensity of some workers' efforts to search for a new job because the higher benefits would lessen the hardship of being unemployed".

The New York Times

Separatist parties argue that erasing the deficit between what Madrid collects in taxes and what is returned for public spending — as much as 16 billion, or eightpercentt of GDP, according to their estimates — would help finance far-reaching social spending and lessen the hardship of austerity.

Vice

Given the complexity and abstraction of control conceptions, several educational tools have been developed, with different characteristics and functionalities, trying to lessen the hardships in the teaching/learning relationship and offering students a larger set of options to understand these theoretical contents.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

At the start of the recession, Congress and the Obama Administration took steps to lessen the hardships children and families were experiencing.

Huffington Post

"Since the October 2005 earthquake, we have been working hard to lessen the hardships of the earthquake-affected people.

Unicef

Many believe that renewed ties with America would lessen their economic hardship.

The Economist

As in Guthrie's best writing, these and the band's other songs lessen the power of economic hardships not by indulging in slogans, or even soliciting a listener's sympathy, but simply by naming those troubles, even reveling in them, with a kind of ferocious delight.

The New York Times - Arts

Fear can cause elephants and donkeys to bicker like caged animals, increasing hardship rather than lessening it.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lessen hardship", consider specifying the type of hardship you're addressing (e.g., economic hardship, emotional hardship) for greater clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "lessen hardship" in very casual conversations. It often sounds too formal for everyday situations; simpler phrases might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen hardship" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, where "lessen" acts as a transitive verb and "hardship" serves as its direct object. It describes the action of reducing the severity or impact of difficult or adverse conditions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lessen hardship" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that effectively communicates the act of reducing difficulties or suffering. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples across various domains, including News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. While not overly frequent, its use is appropriate in formal contexts when discussing efforts to improve well-being. Remember to specify the type of hardship for clarity and avoid overuse in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alleviate suffering

Focuses specifically on reducing suffering, which is a more intense form of hardship.

ease difficulties

Replaces "hardship" with "difficulties", making it slightly less severe in connotation.

mitigate challenges

Substitutes "hardship" with "challenges", framing the situation as something to overcome rather than endure.

reduce adversity

Replaces both words with synonyms, maintaining a formal tone.

ameliorate distress

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the idea of improving a distressing situation.

lighten the burden

Employs a metaphor to express reducing the weight of someone's troubles.

soften the blow

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe making a negative experience less painful.

weaken the impact

Focuses on diminishing the force of a negative effect.

relieve the strain

Highlights the reduction of pressure or tension.

improve living conditions

Shifts the focus to the broader context of overall well-being and quality of life.

FAQs

How can I use "lessen hardship" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen hardship" to describe actions or policies that aim to reduce difficulties or suffering. For example, "The government implemented new policies to "lessen hardship" among low-income families".

What are some alternatives to "lessen hardship"?

Alternatives include "alleviate suffering", "ease difficulties", or "mitigate challenges", depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "lessen hardship" formal or informal?

"Lessen hardship" is generally considered a formal phrase, suitable for professional, academic, or journalistic contexts. Simpler alternatives might be preferred in informal settings.

What's the difference between "lessen hardship" and "reduce suffering"?

While both phrases aim to alleviate negative experiences, "lessen hardship" encompasses a broader range of difficulties, including economic or social challenges. "Reduce suffering", on the other hand, focuses specifically on diminishing pain or distress.