Synonyms of relieve

relieve

verb

ri-ˈlēv 

1

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe

an ice pack will relieve the swelling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alleviate
• help
• soothe
• mitigate
• ease
• soften
• allay
• assuage
• heal
• improve
• cure
• mollify
• palliate
• enhance
• remedy
• lighten
• temper
• moderate
• abate
• fix
• ameliorate
• correct
• rectify
• repair
• better
• amend
• perfect
• refine
• enrich
• reform
• mend
• emend
• meliorate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurt
• impair
• harm
• injure
• aggravate
• exacerbate
• intensify
• heighten
• sharpen

2

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

• rid
• free
• clear
• unburden
• liberate
• divest
• disburden
• disencumber
• loosen
• emancipate
• rescue
• redeem
• enfranchise
• discharge
• release
• extricate
• spring
• loose
• deliver
• unfetter
• manumit
• bail (out)
• unchain
• disengage
• unbind
• disentangle
• uncage

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• burden
• encumber
• saddle
• restrain
• hamper
• subject
• weight (down)
• bog (down)
• fetter
• shackle
• weigh down

3

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

• replace
• supersede
• supplant
• substitute
• displace
• cut out
• displant
• preempt
• usurp

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

Recent Examples of relieve

The authors posit that people from that period sucked on betel nuts to relieve tooth pain, given that these populations are known to have had bad teeth and arecoline is a natural analgesic. — ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026

Leaders may raid tax, payroll, reserve or vendor funds to relieve today’s pressure, quietly converting a timing problem into debt. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Growing evidence shows that GLP-1s may relieve some symptoms of depression. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Gua sha uses flat blunt tools, often pink quartz, to press and scrape across the skin to relieve muscle tension and boost blood circulation, according to L’Oréal Paris. — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026