alleviate Play transitive verbMake (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe. SYNONYMS abateallayassuageattenuatebluntcontroldampdeadendilutediminishdulleasehelplessenlightenlullmitigatemoderatemodifymollifypacifypalliateplacatequellreducerelievesoftensoothestillsweetentake the edge offtempertone downweaken