Word: relieved (adjective)

Associations

"Relieved" describes a feeling of happiness or comfort, often after having had a worry or concern removed. It is linked to a sense of freedom from stress.

• I felt relieved after finishing my exams. (The worry of exams is gone.)
• She was relieved to hear that her friend was safe. (The stress of uncertainty about her friend is over.)
• He sighed with relief when he found his lost wallet. (The anxiety of losing the wallet disappeared.)

Synonym: "Alleviated." While "relieved" refers to the emotional feeling of being free from distress, "alleviated" generally refers to reducing pain or difficulty, often in a more physical sense.

Substitution

Here are some alternatives for "relieved":

• "Comforted" - suggests a more emotional support, often from others.
• "Calmed" - focuses more on the reduction of anxiety rather than the overall feeling.
• "Soothed" - implies a gentle relief, often used for emotional or physical comfort.

Each of these choices tweaks the meaning slightly, emphasizing different aspects of feeling relieved.

Deconstruction

The word "relieved" comes from the base verb "relieve," which means to lessen or alleviate. The suffix "-ed" indicates that it is in the past participle form or describes a state caused by the verb.

The root "re-" means "again" or "back," and "leive" (an old word) means "to raise or lift." Therefore, "relieve" originally meant to lift a burden again, which fits into the context of freeing someone from stress or discomfort.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt relieved? What caused that feeling?
• How do you think relief is different in various situations, like personal vs. work-related stress?
• What are some things that help you feel relieved when you are stressed?