1. people who believe that the world can be made better by human effort and that social conditions will gradually improve
Usage: philosophy; formal

Examples

• The meliorists in the organization worked tirelessly to improve living conditions in the community.
• As meliorists, they believed that education could solve many social problems.
• The political movement attracted meliorists who thought society could be reformed through legislation.
• Unlike cynics, meliorists maintain hope that human nature can be improved.
• The meliorists organized volunteer programs to address poverty in their city.
• Many social workers are meliorists who dedicate their lives to making positive change.