What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
assuage
Example
She tried to assuage his worries by reassuring him that everything would be fine. [assuage: verb]
Example
The medicine helped to assuage the pain in her knee. [assuaging: gerund or present participle]
alleviate
Example
Taking a break can help alleviate stress and improve productivity. [alleviate: verb]
Example
The doctor prescribed medication to alleviate the symptoms of the flu. [alleviating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Alleviate is more commonly used than assuage in everyday language. Alleviate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while assuage is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between assuage and alleviate?
While assuage is typically associated with a more formal and literary tone, alleviate is more commonly used in informal and everyday language.
