allay

Synonym Chooser

How is the word allay different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of allay are alleviate, assuage, lighten, mitigate, and relieve. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

When is it sensible to use alleviate instead of allay?

The synonyms alleviate and allay are sometimes interchangeable, but alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

Where would assuage be a reasonable alternative to allay?

Although the words assuage and allay have much in common, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When is lighten a more appropriate choice than allay?

In some situations, the words lighten and allay are roughly equivalent. However, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When could mitigate be used to replace allay?

While in some cases nearly identical to allay, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

When would relieve be a good substitute for allay?

The words relieve and allay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of allay This will be a major worry for the WHSmith board, which will try and allay any investor fears via a further update at its preliminary results announcement scheduled for November 12. Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Those fears were somewhat allayed by a recent ruling in a separate case, which requires immigration officials to allow Abrego Garcia time to mount a challenge to any deportation order. Travis Loller, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025 The tour is Mamdani’s attempt to allay fears about the unabashedly left-wing candidate. Mark Chiusano, Time, 14 Aug. 2025 Ben Easley, a spokesman with Citizens, allayed any concerns over the discharge by identifying it in an email to IndyStar. Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allay
Verb
  • That program has not alleviated concerns over postproduction deductions and, as of August, had not resolved any cases about that issue, the news organizations found.
    Jacob Orledge, ProPublica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are privacy enhancing technologies that would alleviate this concern.
    Vipin Bharathan, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • More viscous than your average face mist, the milky formula is laced with ceramides and lipids to relieve tight, thirsty skin and refresh dull, dry-looking makeup without so much as a flush or a tingle.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • You may be relieved to know that this book does not involve a gigantic replica of anyone’s birth canal.
    Jamie Harrow, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Now in its 113th year, the initiative connects letters to Santa with individuals and organizations that volunteer to help fulfill holiday wishes.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Change is inherently pressured, and building 'organizational muscles' in times of adversity helps make teams more resilient and ultimately antifragile.
    Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The positive experience of being soothed, whether through calming words, laughter or playful connection, encourages a preference for partners who are attuned and responsive.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But one way to distract and soothe your temperamental toddler might be through music.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Critics have argued that the industry is a prime example of moral hazard—that, by mitigating the potential consequences of a fatal shooting, self-defense insurance makes such outcomes more likely.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
  • By implementing rigorous controls and subjecting them to human scrutiny, companies can guide this powerful technology toward valuable outcomes while mitigating risk factors.
    Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This was a week dedicated to the passage of several bills that would ease regulations on prominent appliances.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • However, some pressures have eased compared with a year ago.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Allay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allay. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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