betterment
Making things better
Betterment is the act or process of making something better, or the result of such improvement.
The word appears most often in formal or institutional contexts: urban betterment programs, the betterment of society.
In property law, betterment refers to improvements that increase a property's value.
The word carries an earnest, somewhat old-fashioned tone—you're more likely to encounter it in mission statements than casual speech.
Forward movement or promotion
- progressMovement toward improvement
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- growthIncrease in size
- refinementElegance of manner
upgrade · enhancement · reform · optimization · evolution · maturation · renovation · modernization
Enhancing oneself deliberately
- personal growthIntentional self-improvement over time
- self-developmentIntentional personal growth
- wellnessOverall state of health
- self-careMaintaining personal wellbeing
mindfulness · discipline · habit-forming · reflection · goal-setting · motivation · resilience · learning
Raise emotionally or physically
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- social mobilityMovement between societal strata
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- equalitySame status for all
opportunity · accessibility · community development · literacy · education · advocacy · welfare · advancement
Restoring to good condition
- upgradeRaise to higher standard
- landscapingModifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- remodelingAltering existing structures
- additionJoining quantities mathematically
repair · maintenance · restoration · enhancement · value-added · investment · fixtures · improvements
Overall state of health
- fitnessGood physical shape
- nutritionBodily use of food
- healingRestoration of health
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
rehabilitation · vitality · wholeness · rejuvenation · restoration · balance · therapy · exercise
advancement
Forward movement or promotion
- progressMovement toward improvement
- developmentProgress toward maturity
- growthIncrease in size
refinement · upgrade · enhancement · reform · optimization · evolution · maturation · renovation · modernization · transformation
self-improvement
Enhancing oneself deliberately
- personal growthIntentional self-improvement over time
- self-developmentIntentional personal growth
- wellnessOverall state of health
self-care · mindfulness · discipline · habit-forming · reflection · goal-setting · motivation · resilience · learning · skill-building
uplift
Raise emotionally or physically
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- social mobilityMovement between societal strata
- prosperityGood fortune, success
equality · opportunity · accessibility · community development · literacy · education · advocacy · welfare · advancement · liberation
renovation
Restoring to good condition
- upgradeRaise to higher standard
- landscapingModifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- remodelingAltering existing structures
addition · repair · maintenance · restoration · enhancement · value-added · investment · fixtures · improvements · curb appeal
wellness
Overall state of health
recovery · rehabilitation · vitality · wholeness · rejuvenation · restoration · balance · therapy · exercise · wellbeing
- improvementsimprovement, fixes, enhancement, upgrade, advancement
- improvementimprovement, enhance, make progress, improve, enhancement
- positive conceptshope, growth, progress, improvement, inspiration
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, making progress
- positive growthgrowth, progress, expansion, improvement, advancement
- benefitsadvantage, healthcare coverage, dental insurance, benefit, health screening
bettermentworsening
Becoming more severe
deterioration · degradation · decline · impairment · degeneration
bettermentregression
Return to former state
decline · downturn · retrogression · backsliding · drop
bettermentstagnation
Absence of flow or progress
standstill · inertia · stasis · arrested development · paralysis