1
Core quality
Intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
Example
The agency ordered remedial action to restore the wetland.
remedial
/rɪˈmiːdiəl/ · rih-MEE-dee-uladjective
Intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
Use remedial to express this relationship precisely: intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
What remedial Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
Students received remedial instruction in basic algebra.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The report recommends both preventive and remedial measures.
Use remedial Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The agency ordered remedial action to restore the wetland.
Students received remedial instruction in basic algebra.
The report recommends both preventive and remedial measures.
Precision Matters
Remedial overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
remedial
vs.Means intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
mitigate
Means make something harmful or severe less serious.
remedial
vs.Means intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
alleviate
Means make pain, difficulty, shortage, or an undesirable condition less severe.
remedial
vs.Means intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
exacerbate
Means to make a problem, condition, or inequality worse.
remedial
vs.Means intended to correct a weakness, repair harm, or improve a deficient condition.
detrimental
Means causing harm, damage, disadvantage, or an undesirable effect.
Test remedial in Context
The work is intended to correct existing damage.
1
After inspectors found severe contamination, the company was required to undertake ___ work to restore the soil.