Satisfy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈsa-təs-ˌfī/ sat·is·fy

Meaning & Definition of Satisfy

Satisfy (verb)

  1. to carry out the terms of (something, such as a contract), discharge
  2. to meet a financial obligation to
  3. to make reparation to (an injured party), indemnify

Satisfy (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner"

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

  2. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

    "it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit"

    similar: argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), talk (into), win (over)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

  3. to do what is required by the terms of

    "the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement"

    similar: answer, complete, comply (with), fill, fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, abide by, make good
    related: conclude, consummate, finalize, finish, perfect, accomplish, achieve, bring about, bring off, carry out, effect, commit, compass, discharge, execute, follow through (with), make, perform
    opposite: breach, break, transgress, violate
    near: default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

  4. to give satisfaction to

    "a hot dinner and a relaxing massage never fails to satisfy her after a long week at work"

    similar: agree (with), content, delight, feast, gas (slang), glad (archaic), gladden, gratify, please, pleasure, rejoice, suit, warm
    related: appease, mollify, pacify, placate, soothe, assuage, quench, sate, satiate, excite, tickle, titillate, amuse, divert, entertain, treat, captivate, charm, galvanize, thrill, calm, comfort, cater (to), humor, indulge, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil
    opposite: displease
    near: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, perturb, pique, put out, ruffle, vex, anger, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil, steam up, provoke, rouse, agitate, distress, disturb, fret, upset, harass, harry, pester, affront, insult, offend

  5. to provide (someone) with a just payment for loss or injury

    "the owners of the restaurant were generously satisfied for any business lost during the filming"

    similar: compensate, indemnify, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite
    related: refund, reimburse, repay, redress, remedy, repair, discharge, pay, quit

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Satisfy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Satisfy:

Slang: gas
Archaic: glad
assuage, quench, sate, satiate, slake, argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), talk (into), win (over), answer, complete, comply (with), fill, fulfill, keep, meet, redeem, agree (with), content, delight, feast, gladden, gratify, please, pleasure, rejoice, suit, warm, compensate, indemnify, recompense

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Satisfy

Words with the opposite meaning of Satisfy:

breach, break, transgress, violate, displease

Related Words for Satisfy

cater (to), humor, indulge, alleviate, lighten, relieve, cloy, saturate, surfeit, blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt

Near Antonyms of Satisfy

arouse, excite, pique, stimulate, tantalize, tease, deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell, default (on), disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk

Word Forms of Satisfy

Inflections: satisfied, satisfying

Origin & Etymology of Satisfy

Middle English satisfien, from Anglo-French satisfier, modification of Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to do, make sad, do

First known use: 15th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Satisfy

Words & Phrases Containing Satisfy

satisfy someone's every whim

Frequently Asked Questions about Satisfy

What does "Satisfy" mean?

"Satisfy" means to carry out the terms of (something, such as a contract), discharge. As a verb, it is defined as: to carry out the terms of (something, such as a contract), discharge. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Satisfy"?

Other words for "Satisfy" include assuage, quench, sate, satiate, slake, argue, bring and bring around. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Satisfy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Satisfy"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Satisfy". Common alternatives include assuage, quench, sate, satiate, slake, argue, bring, bring around, convert and convince.

What is the opposite of "Satisfy"?

Antonyms of "Satisfy" include breach, break, transgress, violate and displease. Near antonyms include arouse, excite, pique and stimulate.

How do you use "Satisfy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Satisfy" in a sentence: "the players satisfied their hunger after the game with a big pasta dinner"; "it took me a while to satisfy my attorney that I had good grounds for a lawsuit"; "the contractor had clearly failed to satisfy the terms of the agreement".

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

"Satisfy" is a verb.

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

As a B2-level word, "Satisfy" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Satisfy"?

"Satisfy" is pronounced /ˈsa-təs-ˌfī/ and divided into syllables as sat·is·fy.