assuaged

as·suage

vt \ə-ˈswāj also -ˈswāzh or -ˈswäzh\

as·suagedas·suag·ing

Definition of ASSUAGE

1

: to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease <unable to assuage their grief>

2

: pacify, quiet <vainly strove…to assuage an implacable foe — Edward Gibbon>

3

: to put an end to by satisfying : appease, quench <assuaging his thirst>

— as·suage·ment\-mənt\ noun

Examples of ASSUAGE

1. He couldn't assuage his guilt over the divorce.
2. <a mother cooing to her toddler and assuaging his fear of the dark>

Origin of ASSUAGE

Middle English aswagen, from Anglo-French asuager, from Vulgar Latin *assuaviare, from Latin ad- + suavis sweet — more at sweet

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ASSUAGE

Synonyms: allay, alleviate, help, ease, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, soothe

Antonyms: aggravate, exacerbate

Related Words: abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper; cure, heal, remedy; amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refine

Near Antonyms: harm, hurt, impair, injure; heighten, intensify, sharpen

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at relieve

Rhymes with ASSUAGE

backstage, birdcage, broad-gauge, coon's age, dark age, downstage, encage, engage, enrage, forestage, front-page, greengage, ice age, Iron Age, new age, offstage, onstage, outrage, presage, rampage, rib cage, road rage, roll cage, soundstage, space-age, substage, teenage, thrust stage, uncage, upstage