WordWeb Online

1. Someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
   - stand-in, substitute, relief, backup, backup man, fill-in
    
2. A person who reduces the intensity (e.g., of fears) and calms and pacifies
   "a reliever of anxiety";
   - allayer, comforter
    
3. A pitcher who does not start the game
   - relief pitcher, fireman

Derived forms: relievers

Type of: compeer, equal, hurler [N. Amer, informal], individual, match, mortal, peer, person, pitcher, somebody, someone, soul, twirler

Encyclopedia: Reliever