meliorate

[ meel-yuh-reyt, mee-lee-uh- ]

verb (used with or without object)

, mel·io·rat·ed, mel·io·rat·ing.

1. ameliorate.

meliorate

/ ˈmiːlɪəˌreɪt; ˈmiːlɪərətɪv /

verb

1. a variant of ameliorate

Derived Forms

• ˈmeliorable, adjective
• ˈmelioˌrator, noun
• meliorative, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• mel·io·ra·ble [meel, -yer-, uh, -b, uh, l, mee, -lee-er-, uh, -], adjective
• mel·io·ra·tive [meel, -y, uh, -rey-tiv, -yer-, uh, -tiv, mee, -lee-, uh, -rey-, -er-, uh, -], adjective
• melio·rator noun
• un·melio·rated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meliorate¹

1545–55; < Latin meliōrātus (past participle of meliōrāre ) to make better, improve, equivalent to meliōr- (stem of melior ) better + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

“I consider such easy vehicles of knowledge, more happily calculated than any other, to preserve the liberty, stimulate the industry and meliorate the morals of an enlightened and free People.”

From Seattle Times

But two new animal studies offer some succor: Aerobic exercise, it turns out, may meliorate some of the impacts of heavy drinking on the brain.

From New York Times

The dilemma here is palpable: take my advice and you can meliorate inhumane and inhuman living conditions.

From Salon

This Howard felt, and, by his efforts to meliorate their condition, he became the acknowledged prince of philanthropists, and earned an immortal and sacred fame.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Buxton's public life was devoted to meliorating the condition of the unfortunate classes of society.

From Project Gutenberg