ClimateAugust 22, 2026

ameliorate

uh-MEEL-yuh-rayt

Definition

To make a condition or situation better or less painful.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'melior', meaning 'better', the word entered English in the mid-18th century as a way to describe the act of making something better.

In the news

The article uses the word when discussing whether infrastructure like roads should be designed to simultaneously manage stormwater and ameliorate, or improve, the negative impacts of urban heat islands.

Florida shows how to adapt as coastal cities face growing threats from sea level rise and storms

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ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos

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