Antonyms for relieve


Grammar : Verb
Spell : ri-leev
Phonetic Transcription : rɪˈliv


Definition of relieve

Origin :
  • late 14c., "alleviate (pain, etc.), mitigate; afford comfort; allow respite; diminish the pressure of," also "give alms to, provide for;" also figuratively, "take heart, cheer up;" from Old French relever "to raise, relieve" (11c.) and directly from Latin relevare "to raise, alleviate, lift up, free from a burden," from re-, intensive prefix (see re-), + levare "to lift up, lighten," from levis "not heavy" (see lever).
  • The notion is "to raise (someone) out of trouble." From c.1400 as "advance to the rescue in battle;" also "return from battle; recall (troops)." Meaning "release from duty" is from early 15c. Related: relieved; relieving.
  • verb make less painful; let up on
  • verb help; give assistance
  • verb remove blame, responsibility
Example sentences :
  • But, to relieve your mind, nothing at all has really happened.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • It seemed to relieve the tension drawn by the other woman's torment.
  • Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
  • And if he turned his eyes to his own camp, he saw little to relieve his anxiety.
  • Extract from : « Stories from Thucydides » by H. L. Havell
  • "It's over the pulling of Lucretia," a man said, simply to relieve his strained feelings.
  • Extract from : « Thoroughbreds » by W. A. Fraser
  • But the bitterness which he put into it failed to relieve him of any of the bitterness that was in his own mind.
  • Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine
  • Now, I can relieve your mind from part of the load by which it has been justly oppressed.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • A particular kind of dejection to relieve a general fatigue.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • There is much to relieve the remark of Mayor Otis from exaggeration.
  • Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various
  • I tried to be charitable, to relieve poverty, but they say there is no poverty to be relieved.
  • Extract from : « City of Endless Night » by Milo Hastings
  • I tried to relieve ignorance, but they will not allow that either.
  • Extract from : « City of Endless Night » by Milo Hastings

Synonyms for relieve

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019