What is it called when you take a word with a bad connotation and make it a word with a positive connotation?

Question

Take the word "nice" as an example. Before it was used negatively and today when something is nice, it is good. How is this called?

Does this answer your question? What are the origins of the word "nice"? - "What's it called when a word with bad connotations develops a positive meaning?" — Rayan Khan, Commented Jul 8, 2020 at 7:57
Does this answer your question? Word for "making something more tolerable?" — marcellothearcane, Commented Jul 15, 2020 at 9:05

chasly - supports Monica · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-07 00:27:11Z

2

One term is melioration

Historical Linguistics. semantic change in a word to a more approved or more respectable meaning. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/melioration

answered Jul 7, 2020 at 0:27

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That's the word!.
– Rayan Khan
Commented Jul 7, 2020 at 3:12
Hmm, I've heard amelioration before. I wonder what the difference is.
– marcellothearcane
Commented Jul 15, 2020 at 9:04

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