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Ease vs Relieve - What's the difference?

ease | relieve |

Relieve is a synonym of ease.



As verbs the difference between ease and relieve

is that ease is to free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc while relieve is to ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.

As a noun ease

is the state of being comfortable or free from stress.

ease

English

Noun

(-)
  • The state of being comfortable or free from stress.
  • She enjoyed the ease of living in a house where the servants did all the work.
  • Freedom from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
  • ''His mind was at ease when he received his pension.
  • Freedom from effort, difficulty or hardship.
  • He passed all the exams with ease .
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 11 , author=Rory Houston , title=Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland , work=RTE Sport citation , page= , passage=Walters tried a long range shot in the third minute as he opened the game sharply, linking well with Robbie Keane, but goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko gathered the ball with ease .}}
  • Dexterity or facility.
  • He played the organ with ease .
  • Affluence and freedom from financial problems.
  • After winning the jackpot, she lived a life of luxurious ease .
  • Relaxation, rest and leisure.
  • We took our ease on the patio.
  • (clothing) Additional space to allow movement within a garment.
  • to add ease to a waist measurement

    Synonyms

    * (state of being comfortable or free from stress) comfort, peace * peace of mind * (dexterity or facility) dexterity, facility, skill * free time, leisure, relaxation, rest

    Derived terms

    * chapel of ease * at ease * ease of use

    References

    Verb

    (eas)
  • To free (something) from pain, worry, agitation, etc.
  • He eased his conscience by confessing.
  • * '>citation
  • Elyse Saugstad, a professional skier, wore a backpack equipped with an air bag, a relatively new and expensive part of the arsenal that backcountry users increasingly carry to ease their minds and increase survival odds in case of an avalanche.
  • To alleviate, assuage or lessen (pain).
  • ''He loosened his shoe to ease the pain.
  • To give respite to (someone).
  • The provision of extra staff eased their workload.
  • To loosen or slacken the tension on (something).
  • We eased the rope, then lowered the sail.
  • To reduce the difficulty of (something).
  • We had to ease the entry requirements.
  • To move (something) slowly and carefully.
  • He eased the cork from the bottle.
  • To lessen in severity.
  • The pain eased overnight.
  • To proceed with little effort.
  • The car eased onto the motorway.

    Synonyms

    * assuage, salve * alleviate, assuage, lessen, reduce * give someone a break (informal), lay off (informal) * loosen, relax, slacken * simplify * (lessen in severity) lessen, reduce * (proceed with little effort) cruise

    relieve

    English

    Verb

    (reliev)
  • To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}
  • To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.
  • To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).
  • To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).
  • (obsolete) To lift up; to raise again.
  • (legal) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to.
  • This shall not relieve either Party of any obligations.
  • To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the seige on.
  • To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc.
  • (military, job) To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place.
  • * 1819 , (Lord Byron), , III.76:
  • The henna should be deeply dyed to make / The skin relieved appear more fairly fair [...].
  • * 1927 , (Countee Cullen), From the Dark Tower :
  • The night whose sable breast relieves the stark / White stars is no less lovely being dark
  • (reflexive) To go to the toilet; to defecate or urinate.
  • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * relieve oneself