appeases; appeased; appeasing
formal
1
often disapproving
: to make (someone) pleased or less angry by giving or saying something desired
They appeased the dictator by accepting his demands in an effort to avoid war.
Efforts to appease [=pacify, placate] the angry protesters were unsuccessful.
His critics were not appeased by this last speech.
They made sacrifices to appease the gods.
2
: to make (a pain, a problem, etc.) less painful or troubling
We had no way to appease our hunger.
She appeased [=eased] her guilty conscience by telling him the truth.
Cite this Entry
“Appease.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/appease. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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