Assuage — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈswāj/ as·suage

Meaning & Definition of Assuage

Assuage (verb)

  1. to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses), ease
  2. to reduce to a state of peace, calm, or quiet, pacify, quiet
  3. to put an end to by satisfying, appease, quench

Assuage (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make more bearable or less severe

    "a mother cooing to her toddler and assuaging his fear of the dark"

    similar: allay, alleviate, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe
    related: abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper, cure, heal, remedy, amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine
    opposite: aggravate, exacerbate
    near: harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, intensify, sharpen

  2. to put a complete end to (a physical need or desire)

    "that huge meal certainly assuaged my hunger"

    similar: quench, sate, satiate, satisfy, slake
    related: cater (to), gratify, humor, indulge, alleviate, lighten, relieve, cloy, saturate, surfeit
    near: arouse, excite, pique, stimulate, tantalize, tease

  3. to lessen the anger or agitation of

    "nothing would assuage the angry parent except the prompt dismissal of the teacher who had used corporal punishment without authorization"

    similar: appease, 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 Assuage

The most common words with a similar meaning to Assuage:

allay, alleviate, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe, quench, sate, satiate, satisfy, slake, appease, conciliate, disarm, gentle, pacify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Assuage

Words with the opposite meaning of Assuage:

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

Related Words for Assuage

abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper, cure, heal, remedy, amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine, cater (to), gratify, humor, indulge, cloy, saturate

Near Antonyms of Assuage

harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, intensify, sharpen, arouse, excite, pique, stimulate, tantalize, tease, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, put out, rankle

Word Forms of Assuage

Inflections: assuaged, assuaging

Derived words: assuagement (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Assuage

Middle English aswagen, borrowed from Anglo-French asuager (continental Old French assuagier), going back to Vulgar Latin *assūaviāre, from Latin ad- -ad- + Vulgar Latin *-sūaviāre, derivative of Latin sūavis "agreeable to the senses, sweet, pleasant" sweet:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Assuage

Frequently Asked Questions about Assuage

What does "Assuage" mean?

"Assuage" means to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses), ease. As a verb, it is defined as: to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses), ease. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Assuage"?

Other words for "Assuage" include allay, alleviate, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate and relieve. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Assuage" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Assuage"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Assuage". Common alternatives include allay, alleviate, ease, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe and quench.

What is the opposite of "Assuage"?

Antonyms of "Assuage" include aggravate, exacerbate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate and ire. Near antonyms include harm, hurt, impair and injure.

How do you use "Assuage" in a sentence?

Examples of "Assuage" in a sentence: "a mother cooing to her toddler and assuaging his fear of the dark"; "that huge meal certainly assuaged my hunger"; "nothing would assuage the angry parent except the prompt dismissal of the teacher who had used corporal punishment without authorization".

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

"Assuage" is a verb.

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

As a C2-level word, "Assuage" 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 "Assuage"?

"Assuage" is pronounced /ə-ˈswāj/ and divided into syllables as as·suage.