# reliever

/ɹiˈɫivɝ/ (US) · /ɹɪlˈiːvɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reliever
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

something that helps you feel better by taking away pain or stress. You might use this word for a medicine or even a person who helps you relax.

For teachers: a substance, person, or device that mitigates pain, discomfort, or psychological stress. Often used in medical contexts to describe analgesics or in sports to describe a substitute player.

## Examples

- I took a pain reliever for my headache.
- The doctor recommended an over-the-counter pain reliever to help manage the swelling in her ankle.
- While pharmacological relievers are effective for acute symptoms, chronic pain management often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving physical therapy and psychological support.

## Usage notes

- Commonly appears in compound nouns such as 'pain reliever' or 'stress reliever'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.