ameliorate

What does “ameliorate” mean?

verb.to make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in contexts related to social issues, healthcare, or environmental concerns, emphasizing efforts to improve conditions or alleviate suffering. It implies a proactive approach to enhancement rather than merely reducing harm, distinguishing it from words like "mitigate," which suggests lessening severity without necessarily improving the situation.

Common Confusions

Ameliorate implies improving a situation, while alleviate usually suggests merely reducing the severity of a problem without necessarily enhancing the overall condition.

Example Sentences

• They offered some compromises in an effort to ameliorate the situation.

• The new policy was designed to ameliorate the financial hardships facing families.

Word Parts: How to Remember “ameliorate”

Break “ameliorate” into its parts: ad- (to, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ad- to, toward (Latin)

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