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Definitions

relieve

[ri-leev] / rɪˈliv /
VERB
make less painful; let up on
Synonyms
STRONGEST
allay alleviate assuage calm comfort cure diminish ease free mitigate relax soothe subdue
STRONG
abate appease break brighten console decrease divert dull interrupt lighten moderate mollify palliate qualify quiet salve slacken soften solace temper vary
WEAK
take load off one's chest take load off one's mind
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate agitate annoy distress excite grow hurt incite increase intensify irritate provoke rouse upset vex worry worsen
STRONG
allow darken depress enlarge stay trouble
WEAK
accuse blame burden condemn discourage harm injure pain
VERB
help; give assistance
Synonyms
STRONGEST
assist
STRONG
aid spell succor support sustain
WEAK
bring aid give a break give a hand give a rest stand in (for) substitute for take over from take the place of
Antonyms
WEAK
accuse blame burden condemn discourage harm hurt injure pain trouble upset worry
VERB
remove blame, responsibility
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absolve free
STRONG
deliver discharge disembarrass disencumber dismiss dispense excuse exempt privilege pull release spare unburden yank
WEAK
force to resign let off throw out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hold
STRONG
detain employ engage hire imprison keep maintain push
WEAK
accuse blame burden condemn discourage harm hurt injure pain trouble upset worry

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are no vaccines and no known cure, meaning that treatment consists solely of attempting to relieve the symptoms.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

The idea is to relieve pressure on the yen, with policymakers viewing the surge in energy prices as a key driver of the currency’s weakness against the dollar.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

It is certainly not uncommon for a defense secretary to relieve generals and other military leaders.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

A model of how one of GluBio’s experimental ‘molecular glue’ drugs causes two proteins in the human body, WIZ and cereblon, to stick to each other in a way designed to relieve sickle cell disease.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

They’d been given no place to relieve themselves, and the stink of bodies and worse was nearly unbearable.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Vocabulary lists containing relieve

The Circuit

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How I Became a Ghost

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Slam!

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