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

Yet Trump’s policy of appeasement toward Russia — an adversary — remains unaltered. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2025

Only nine Democrats supported the measure, which some described as appeasement of the new Trump administration. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Achievement of the balance between adherence to legal rules and appeasement of authority can be precarious. —Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for appeasement

• easement