Definition of ASSUAGE

Choose the Right Synonym for assuage

relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate, allay mean to make something less grievous. relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable. took an aspirin to relieve the pain alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. the lotion alleviated the itching lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight. good news would lighten our worries assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable. ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful. the need to mitigate barbaric laws allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms. allayed their fears

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.

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 on the Web

Even with his title at stake later in the week, Jermall assuaged Jermell's concerns about having to be alone for his fight. — Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, "Jermall Charlo will start fight week by supporting twin brother Jermell in Las Vegas," 19 June 2019 Old-time religion fails to assuage shame over his yearnings and abuse. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, "Coming-of-age story packs an emotional wallop with its premiere at opera festival," 18 June 2019 Many artists, and their managers, however, would not be assuaged by the argument that digital copies exist — even though that statement itself was misleading as far as how much of the materials stored at the Hollywood facility had been backed up. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Report: Universal Music Group covered up destruction of irreplaceable master tapes in 2008 fire," 12 June 2019 Many artists, and their managers, however, would not be assuaged by the argument that digital copies exist — even though that statement itself was misleading as far as how much of the materials stored at the Hollywood facility had been backed up. — Randy Lewis, latimes.com, "Report: Universal Music Group covered up destruction of irreplaceable master tapes in 2008 fire," 11 June 2019 Ultimately the efforts at restraint failed to assuage the U.S. Senate, which rebuffed Trump administration appeals and voted this month to cut off U.S. support for the war. — Dion Nissenbaum, WSJ, "Mattis, U.S. Commander Sought to Temper Saudi-Led War in Yemen," 31 Dec. 2018 Cordova works with children, assuaging their fears, easing them in and out of the scanner while coaxing them with soft words, Pixar movies and promises of snacks to minimize wiggling. — Quanta Magazine, "‘Functional Fingerprint’ May Identify Brains Over a Lifetime," 16 Aug. 2018 If a year is too long to wait, in the meantime, assuage yourself with more writing from Ahern. Roar, a book of 30 short stories, bows April 16—and is already available for preorder. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "PS, I Love You, the Bestselling Book That Inspired a Hilary Swank Movie, Is Getting a Sequel," 13 Mar. 2019 Comey argues that Trump does not make decisions on the basis of philosophical, religious or logical considerations, but simply to assuage the deficiencies of his own character and emotional makeup. — Stephen Collinson, CNN, "Comey's psychoanalysis: Trump's always trying to fill an emotional hole," 26 Apr. 2018

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.