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

For decades, many of us pleaded with world leaders: reject both appeasement and war with the Islamic Republic. —Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 17 June 2025

Also at stake in the balancing of rule adherence and professional appeasement is the public’s perception of the judicial system and the legal profession in general. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

Pritzker, a former trustee of Northwestern University, argues persuasively that advance compliance, appeasement and silence are only enabling Trump to achieve his goals faster and giving this administration the ability to deal a mortal strike to our democracy. —Luis A. Nunes Amaral, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025

Perspectives: • The Hill: Team Trump’s appeasement of Putin fails in London. —Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for appeasement

• easement