Definition of assuage
assuaged
;assuaging
From the M-W Editors
assuage was our Word of the Day on 02/01/2008. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of assuage in a Sentence
Life contains sorrows that cannot be assuaged, and it is important to be honest in acknowledging this. —Jo McGowan, Commonweal, 5 May 2006
But for the second exam, my pretest diet included yogurt and ice cream (without pieces), which assuaged my hunger, and the cleansing was stimulated by a glass of salty liquid midafternoon. —Jane E. Brody, New York Times, 12 July 2005
Whatever arrangements such mothers willingly make for their children, whatever strategies they employ to relieve their guilt, whatever books they read to assuage their anxiety—all of that is their business, not mine. —Caitlin Flanagan, Atlantic, March 2004
As I've told Jody on numerous occasions, the best way for her to assuage my guilt is to hit it big in the Internet gold rush and then retire … —Matthew Miller, New Republic, 17 Jan. 2000
He couldn't assuage his guilt over the divorce.
a mother cooing to her toddler and assuaging his fear of the dark
Recent Examples of assuage from the Web
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For de Graaf, a solution that might just assuage all these issues is something that our friends across the pond have been doing for some time.
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The plans also show that Brazil is seeking to move forward with its energy plans and assuage concerns that an expanding political crisis would crimp efforts to boost wind and solar energy.
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Tuesday's pronouncement on discipline did nothing to assuage that.
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Choosing to work for him necessitates a willingness to be demeaned in order to assuage his desire to feel like a big, important person.
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Skybox’s pedigree likely won’t help assuage anyone who likes a good conspiracy theory.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assuage'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Assuage Stays Sweet Over Time
Scholars assume that the word assuage derives from assuaviare, a Vulgar Latin term that combines the prefix ad- (to or toward) and the Latin suavis, meaning "sweet," pleasant, or agreeable.(Suavis is also the source of the adjective suave.) To assuage is to sweeten or make agreeable or tolerable, and it is far from the only English word for relieving or softening something difficult. Others include allay, alleviate, and mitigate. Allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms, while alleviate implies a temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. Mitigate suggests moderating or countering the force or intensity of something painful.
Origin and Etymology 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
Synonym Discussion of assuage
ASSUAGE Defined for English Language Learners
assuage
playDefinition of assuage for English Language Learners
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: to make (something, such as an unpleasant feeling) less painful, severe, etc.
ASSUAGE Defined for Kids
assuage
playDefinition of assuage for Students
assuaged
;assuaging
: to make less severe or intense assuage pain assuaged her grief
Learn More about assuage
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See words that rhyme with assuage Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for assuage Spanish Central: Translation of assuage Nglish: Translation of assuage for Spanish speakers
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