abate

abate (v): (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less strong/ intense/ widespread/severe Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. Nothing abated his crusading zeal. This action would not have been sufficient to abate the odor nuisance. Abate anger/pain verb forms: abate, abated, abating, abates noun: abator, abatement adjective: abatable, abated similar words: abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, mitigate, relieve, temper

abate

abate (v): (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less strong/ intense/ widespread/severe Rather than leaving immediately, they waited for the storm to abate. Nothing abated his crusading zeal. This action would not have been sufficient to abate the odor nuisance. Abate anger/pain verb forms: abate, abated, abating, abates noun: abator, abatement adjective: abatable, abated similar words: abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, mitigate, relieve, temper

Related words: Allay: lessen the intensity Subside: become calm Wane: gradually decline Attenuate: reduce in strength Dwindle: become smaller or lose substance Slacken: become slower; become looser Minify: make smaller Assuage: make less intense(of unpleasant feeling); satisfy Alleviate: make less severe (of suffering, deficiency, or a problem) Mitigate: to make less severe Soothe: cause to feel better Ameliorate: improve (bad)condition decrease, reduce, lessen, sink, ease, moderate, drop off, taper off, peter out, fall off, diminish, relieve, fade, slow down, decline Pacify, appease, placate, mollify, conciliate, propitiate

THE RIGHT WORD abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, mitigate, relieve, temper To alleviate is to make something easier to endure (alleviate the pain following surgery); allay is often used interchangeably, but it also means to put to rest, to quiet or calm (to allay their suspicions). Assuage and allay both suggest the calming or satisfying of a desire or appetite, but assuage implies a more complete or permanent satisfaction (we allay our hunger by nibbling hors d'oeuvres, but a huge dinner assuages our appetite). To relieve implies reducing the misery or discomfort to the point where something is bearable (relieve the monotony of the crosscountry bus trip), and mitigate, which comes from a Latin word meaning to soften, usually means to lessen in force or intensity (mitigate the storm's impact). Abate suggests a progressive lessening in degree or intensity (her fever was abating). To temper is to soften or moderate (to temper justice with mercy), but it can also mean the exact opposite: to harden or toughen something (tempering steel; a body tempered by lifting weights).