Appease — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈpēz/ ap·pease

Meaning & Definition of Appease

Appease (verb)

  1. pacify, conciliate; especially, to make concessions to (someone, such as an aggressor or a critic) often at the sacrifice of principles
  2. to cause to subside, allay
  3. to bring to a state of peace or quiet, calm

Appease (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lessen the anger or agitation of

    "a game often appeases an upset toddler"

    similar: assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate
    related: calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize, endear (to), ingratiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap, quench, sate, satiate, satisfy, cater (to), humor, indulge, blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle, baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil, dulcify, sweeten
    opposite: anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, ire, madden, outrage
    near: aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex, provoke, rouse, harass, harry, persecute, pester, agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, offend, slight

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appease

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appease:

assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appease

Words with the opposite meaning of Appease:

anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

Related Words for Appease

calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize, endear (to), ingratiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap, quench, sate, satiate, satisfy, cater (to), humor, indulge, blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk

Near Antonyms of Appease

aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex, provoke, rouse, harass, harry, persecute, pester, agitate

Word Forms of Appease

Inflections: appeased, appeasing

Derived words: appeasable (adjective), appeaser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Appease

Middle English appesen, from Anglo-French apeser, apaiser, from a- (from Latin ad-) + pais peace peace

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Appease

Frequently Asked Questions about Appease

What does "Appease" mean?

"Appease" means pacify, conciliate; especially, to make concessions to (someone, such as an aggressor or a critic) often at the sacrifice of principles. As a verb, it is defined as: pacify, conciliate; especially, to make concessions to (someone, such as an aggressor or a critic) often at the sacrifice of principles.

What is another word for "Appease"?

Other words for "Appease" include assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate and propitiate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appease" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appease"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appease". Common alternatives include assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate and propitiate.

What is the opposite of "Appease"?

Antonyms of "Appease" include anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, ire, madden and outrage. Near antonyms include aggravate, annoy, antagonize and bother.

How do you use "Appease" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appease" in a sentence: "a game often appeases an upset toddler".

Is "Appease" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appease" is a verb.

Is "Appease" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Appease" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Appease"?

"Appease" is pronounced /ə-ˈpēz/ and divided into syllables as ap·pease.