Ease — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈēz/

Meaning & Definition of Ease

Ease (noun)

  1. the state of being comfortable
  2. freedom from pain or discomfort
  3. freedom from care

Ease (verb)

  1. to free from something that pains, disquiets, or burdens
  2. to make less painful, alleviate
  3. to lessen the pressure or tension of especially by slackening, lifting, or shifting

Ease (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to free from obstruction or difficulty

    "measures intended to ease the flow of traffic during rush hour"

    similar: facilitate, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, pave the way (for)
    related: accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed, advance, forward, further, promote, abet, aid, assist, help, improve, disentangle, straighten (out), untangle, simplify, streamline
    opposite: complicate
    near: hinder, impede, retard, aggravate, worsen, perplex, sophisticate

  2. to make less taut

    "the rock climber eased the rope a little so that his fellow climber had room to maneuver"

    similar: loosen, relax, slack, slacken
    related: detach, free, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie
    opposite: strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten
    near: attach, bind, fasten, tie, constrain, restrain

  3. to make more bearable or less severe

    "grandmother's firm belief that there are few ailments that chicken soup won't ease"

    similar: allay, alleviate, assuage, 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

  4. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "the chairman of the Federal Reserve has promised to ease interest rates"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, shrink, minimize, moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
    opposite: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise
    near: blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, intensify, redouble

  5. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "new investments in the region have eased since the rise in interest rates"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decline, decrease, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Ease (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. reduction of or freedom from pain

    "the sunburn medication brought me instant ease"

    similar: alleviation, comfort, release, relief
    related: appeasement, assuagement, decrease, diminishment, mitigation, moderation, mollification, calming, salving, soothing
    near: discomfort, unrest, agony, anguish, misery, suffering, torment, torture, ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

  2. carefree freedom from constraint

    "a gymnast who can handle even the most demanding moves on the parallel bars with total ease"

    similar: abandon, abandonment, lightheartedness, naturalness, spontaneity, spontaneousness, unconstraint, uninhibitedness, unrestraint
    related: ardor, enthusiasm, exuberance, fervor, spirit, warmth, zeal, zealotry, zealousness, carelessness, heedlessness, impulsiveness, impulsivity, indiscretion, insouciance, recklessness, thoughtlessness, unself-consciousness, casualness, offhandedness, excess, excessiveness, immoderacy, incontinence, indulgence, intemperance, licentiousness, permissiveness, wantonness, wildness, blank check, carte blanche, free hand
    opposite: constraint, restraint
    near: embarrassment, reserve, reticence, self-consciousness, uneasiness, inhibition, repression, self-restraint, suppression, carefulness, discreetness, discretion, heedfulness, discipline, self-command, self-control, self-denial, self-discipline, self-mastery, willpower

  3. freedom from activity or labor

    "the dream of every lottery player is a life of fabulous luxury and everlasting ease"

    similar: decompression, leisure, relaxation, repose, rest
    related: catnapping, dozing, lazing, napping, resting, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, quiet, silence, stillness, calm, peace, peacefulness, placidity, respite, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, tranquility, tranquilness, dolce far niente, idleness
    opposite: exertion, labor, toil, work
    near: pressure, strain, stress, tenseness, tension

Related Entry: Ease (up) (verb)

Ease (up) is a different word from Ease. The synonyms below are for ease (up), not for ease.

  1. as in let up

    similar: let up, break, recess, relax, repose, rest, escape, get (away), get off, bum, goldbrick, idle, laze, loaf, lounge, slack (off), holiday, vacation
    opposite: drudge, endeavor, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, work

Related Entry: Ill at ease (adjective)

Ill at ease is a different word from Ease. The synonyms below are for ill at ease, not for ease.

  1. feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty

    "I'm usually ill at ease when addressing a large crowd of people"

    similar: aflutter, antsy, anxious, atwitter, dithery, edgy, goosey, het up, hinky (slang), hung up, insecure, jittery, jumpy, nervous, nervy, perturbed, queasy, tense, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, uptight, worried, keyed up, on edge, on pins and needles, on tenterhooks
    related: aggrieved, bothered, concerned, disquieted, distraught, distressed, disturbed, freaked, freaked-out, shook-up, apprehensive, foreboding, hesitant, misgiving, fretful, fretting, stewing, vexed, qualmish, qualmy, flustered, twittered, undone, unnerved, unstrung, obsessed, preoccupied, restless, fidgety, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hypertense, skittish, spooky
    opposite: calm, collected, cool, easy, happy-go-lucky, nerveless, relaxed
    near: confident, self-assured, self-confident, sure, controlled, self-controlled

Related Entry: At ease (phrase)

At ease is a different word from Ease. The synonyms below are for at ease, not for ease.

  1. enjoying physical comfort

    "The manager encouraged the guests to feel at ease and and take advantage of the resort's luxurious amenities."

    similar: canny (chiefly Scottish), comfortable, comfy, cozy, relaxed, snug, at home
    related: toasty, warm, content, contented, pleased, satisfied, easeful, peaceful, resting, easygoing, laid-back, undisturbed, unperturbed, untroubled
    opposite: uncomfortable
    near: discontented, displeased, dissatisfied, agitated, disturbed, perturbed, troubled

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ease

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ease:

facilitate, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, loosen, relax, slack, slacken, allay, alleviate, assuage, help, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe, abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce, decline, die (away or down or out), drain (away), drop (off), ebb, fall, fall away, let up

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ease

Words with the opposite meaning of Ease:

complicate, strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten, aggravate, exacerbate, aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise, accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, grow, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell

Related Words for Ease

accelerate, expedite, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed, advance, forward, further, promote, abet, aid, assist, improve, disentangle, straighten (out), untangle, simplify, streamline, detach, free, unbind, undo, unfasten, untie, lighten, soften, temper, cure

Near Antonyms of Ease

hinder, impede, retard, worsen, perplex, sophisticate, attach, bind, fasten, tie, constrain, restrain, harm, hurt, impair, injure, heighten, sharpen, blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement

Word Forms of Ease

Inflections: eased, easing

Derived words: easeful (adjective), easefully (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Ease

Middle English ese, from Anglo-French eise, aise convenience, comfort, ultimately from Latin adjacent-, adjacens neighboring adjacent

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Ease

Words & Phrases Containing Ease

ease off, ease someone's (troubled) mind, ease up on, at ease, chapel of ease, ill at ease, put (someone) at ease, set someone's mind at ease

Frequently Asked Questions about Ease

What does "Ease" mean?

"Ease" means the state of being comfortable. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the state of being comfortable. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ease"?

Other words for "Ease" include facilitate, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, loosen, relax and slack. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ease" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ease"?

There are 225 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ease". Common alternatives include facilitate, grease, loosen (up), smooth, unclog, loosen, relax, slack, slacken and allay.

What is the opposite of "Ease"?

Antonyms of "Ease" include complicate, strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten, aggravate and exacerbate. Near antonyms include hinder, impede, retard and worsen.

How do you use "Ease" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ease" in a sentence: "measures intended to ease the flow of traffic during rush hour"; "the rock climber eased the rope a little so that his fellow climber had room to maneuver"; "grandmother's firm belief that there are few ailments that chicken soup won't ease".

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

"Ease" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

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

As a C1-level word, "Ease" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Ease"?

"Ease" is pronounced /ˈēz/.