appease

ap·pease

vt \ə-ˈpēz\

ap·peasedap·peas·ing

Definition of APPEASE

1

: to bring to a state of peace or quiet : calm

2

: to cause to subside : allay <appeased my hunger>

3

: pacify, conciliate; especially : to buy off (an aggressor) by concessions usually at the sacrifice of principles

— ap·peas·able\-ˈpē-zə-bəl\ adjective

— ap·pease·ment\-ˈpēz-mənt\ noun

— ap·peas·er noun

Examples of APPEASE

1. They appeased the dictator by accepting his demands in an effort to avoid war.
2. His critics were not appeased by this last speech.
3. They made sacrifices to appease the gods.
4. We had no way to appease our hunger.

Origin of APPEASE

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to APPEASE

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

Antonyms: anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

Related Words: calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize); 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

Near Antonyms: 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

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See Synonym Discussion at pacify