ameliorate

/ə-ˈmēl-yə-ˌrāt/

alteration (after French améliorer) of meliorate

verb

  1. to make better or more tolerable

  2. to grow better

medicine to ameliorate the pain

improve better help ameliorate mean to make more acceptable or to bring nearer a standard. improve and better are general and interchangeable and apply to what can be made better whether it is good or bad. help implies a bettering that still leaves room for improvement.