as in placating
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
we had been feuding with the people next door, so inviting them to the party was intended as an appeasing gesture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of
a game often appeases an upset toddler
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of appeasing
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Court life required appeasing those in power, often rulers with little understanding of music.
—Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The move is aimed at appeasing moderate Republicans who are trying to force votes, through what is known as a discharge petition, on separate pieces of legislation to extend the tax credits for one to two years with reforms.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Over the past months, Iranian officials have tried to carefully balance negotiations with Trump while appeasing factions across the country’s diverse political landscape, including the Paydari group.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Court life required appeasing those in power, often rulers with little understanding of music.
—Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The move is aimed at appeasing moderate Republicans who are trying to force votes, through what is known as a discharge petition, on separate pieces of legislation to extend the tax credits for one to two years with reforms.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appeasing
Adjective
-
As markets reeled, officials later struck a more conciliatory tone, indicating that formal trade talks were expected to resume in the weeks ahead.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
Freep.com,
25 Nov. 2025
-
Then, there is Columbia University, which took a more conciliatory approach, quickly reaching an agreement to pay a $200 million fine over three years but consenting to more of the administration’s invasive non-monetary stipulations.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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That’s not comforting for a fan base that has watched the Cubs squander a stellar start to the season that featured a 20-3 stretch.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
Comfort shows are comforting for a reason.—
Mark Travers,
CNBC,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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The set comes in over 10 colors, including a summer-ready coral and soothing sage green.—
Better Homes & Gardens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
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There’s a cosmic irony in referencing Yoshimura, whose soothing compositions were famously commissioned to accompany showrooms for model homes in Japan in the 1980s and have since become synonymous with domestic comfort.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
Verb
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In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai made the biggest Smash yet, as the title suggests, taking years of post-release development and placating a fanbase that had hulking expectations, ending up with the third best selling game on Nintendo Switch.—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
19 Nov. 2025
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The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Sadly, Pennywise is not a benevolent creature.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
Others prioritize self-interest, often cloaked in benevolent language.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest lend an auteur’s touch to the material, creating something that stands on its own while still bearing some of the MCU’s crowd pleasing flourishes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
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Start by picking a film that fits the season and your guests, like a crowd-pleasing summer blockbuster, a cult classic, or a vintage thriller.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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The demonstration, which had been previously organized by a hodgepodge of activist groups after weeks of negotiations with local authorities, was otherwise peaceful — with environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, supporters of Palestinians and foes of imperialism, fascism and capitalism.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
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While many protests remained peaceful, authorities have also investigated multiple incidents involving vandalism, property destruction and attacks on construction equipment.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Lavender is beloved for its calming fragrance and vibrant purple blooms.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
-
Listen to calming music to reduce tension.—
Craig O. Weber,
Verywell Health,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appeasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appeasing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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