reliever

IPA/rɪˈliːvə(r)/
KK[rilˈivɚ]IPA/rɪˈliːvər/

reliever — noun

  • relieversingular
  • relieversplural

1. something that reduces the strength or severity of an unpleasant feeling, pain,

1.名詞B1
釋義

something that reduces the strength or severity of an unpleasant feeling, pain, or difficult situation

例句

Dario finds that jogging is a great stress reliever after a long day at work.

reliever: often used in compound nouns (stress reliever, pain reliever)

After her long run, Mei-Lin soaked in a warm bath — her favourite reliever of muscle tension.

reliever + of + noun phrase; possessive determiner (her favourite reliever)

同義詞
  • soother

    more emotional or calming; less common for physical pain

  • alleviator

    more formal; emphasizes reducing the severity rather than removing

  • palliative

    formal and medical; suggests temporary relief rather than a cure

反義詞
  • aggravator

    something that makes a problem worse; informal

文法句型

reliever + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used in compound nouns such as 'pain reliever' and 'stress reliever'. The object of the preposition 'of' names the unpleasant thing being reduced.

常見錯誤

❌This cream is a good pain relief.
✅This cream is a good pain reliever.
💡'Pain relief' is the effect (uncountable noun); 'pain reliever' is the product or thing that produces relief.
❌A vacation can be a reliever.
✅A vacation can be a great stress reliever.
💡Used alone without context, 'reliever' sounds incomplete; specify what it relieves (stress reliever, pain reliever, etc.).

2. a type of medication that a person with asthma breathes in through an inhaler to

2.名詞B2
釋義

a type of medication that a person with asthma breathes in through an inhaler to quickly stop the symptoms of an asthma attack

例句

Ritu always carries her blue reliever inhaler in her bag in case of a sudden asthma attack.

attributive use: reliever inhaler

The doctor explained that a reliever opens the airways within minutes, unlike the daily preventer medication.

contrast with preventer medication

同義詞
反義詞
  • preventer

    maintenance medication taken daily to prevent asthma attacks

  • controller

    another term for long-term asthma control medication

文法句型

reliever + noun (reliever inhaler)

用法筆記

In medical contexts, 'reliever' is often paired with 'preventer' (maintenance medication). 'Reliever inhalers' are usually blue in many countries. This sense is specific to respiratory medicine; do not confuse with a general 'pain reliever' (sense 1).

常見錯誤

❌I need a reliever for my headache.
✅I need a pain reliever for my headache.
💡In general contexts, 'pain reliever' is the standard form; bare 'reliever' for non-asthma conditions sounds unnatural.
❌The reliever treats the cause of asthma.
✅The reliever treats the symptoms of an asthma attack.
💡Relievers provide quick symptom relief; they do not cure or treat the underlying inflammation.

3. a baseball pitcher who takes over from the previous pitcher on the mound, usuall

3.名詞B2
釋義

a baseball pitcher who takes over from the previous pitcher on the mound, usually appearing in the final few innings to protect a narrow lead

例句

The team brought in their best reliever to pitch the ninth inning with only a one-run lead.

late-inning context: common role of a reliever

Rachid has been the most consistent reliever in the league this season, striking out over eighty batters.

同義詞
  • relief pitcher

    full term; interchangeable with 'reliever'

  • closer

    specialized reliever who pitches the final inning to secure a win

  • bullpen pitcher

    broader term for any pitcher warming up in the bullpen

反義詞

文法句型

reliever + verb (singular/plural)

用法筆記

This sense is almost exclusively used in American English in the context of baseball. In British English, the equivalent term 'relief pitcher' is understood primarily by sports fans. A 'closer' is a specific type of reliever who pitches the final inning.

常見錯誤

❌The soccer team brought on a reliever.
✅The soccer team brought on a substitute.
💡'Reliever' is specific to baseball; use 'substitute' for other sports.