appeasement

noun

ap·​pease·​ment ə-ˈpēz-mənt 

plural appeasements

1

: the act or action of appeasing someone or something

… one tribe may go in for the appeasement of local ghosts …

—W. D. Howells

especially : a policy of appeasing an enemy or potential aggressor by making concessions

Although appeasement may work in individual cases, terrorist groups with global ambitions cannot be appeased by territorial concessions.

—Walter Laqueur

The Munich analogy—recalling the Allies' appeasement of Germany over its demands on Czechoslovakia in 1938—has been cited again and again, and this is understandable.

—Fredric Smoler

2

: the state of being satisfied

an experience from which he derived little appeasement

… we are relieved to read of Shaw … alleviating the tedium of a vegetarian diet with secret gorges on boiled sweets and cake; his sensuality found appeasement in sugar.

—Robertson Davies

Examples of appeasement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of his targets have learned through bitter experience that preëmptive appeasement only opens the door to escalating demands. —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025

That led to the penny-wise, pound-foolish path of appeasement. —Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025

All broadcasters must stand firm in defense of free expression and the First Amendment, not capitulate to a policy of political appeasement. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025

Various social groups may push for change, and at times hegemons may make apparent concessions to these groups; these concessions are reforms implemented as an appeasement to prevent unrest or revolution. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for appeasement

• easement