as in to placate
to lessen the anger or agitation of
a game often appeases an upset toddler
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Recent Examples of appease
Policies supposed to appease farmers destroyed their land and water.
—
Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Some speculated that the move was actually to appease the FCC and ensure a smooth merger between Paramount, CBS’s parent company, and Skydance Media.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Now, with the offseason acquisition of Holiday, and bringing back Lillard, seems to have appeased Grant’s unease.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Abu Dhabi’s involvement in the spin-out of TikTok to appease China hawks in the US is unexpected.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appease
Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Some speculated that the move was actually to appease the FCC and ensure a smooth merger between Paramount, CBS’s parent company, and Skydance Media.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
Now, with the offseason acquisition of Holiday, and bringing back Lillard, seems to have appeased Grant’s unease.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Abu Dhabi’s involvement in the spin-out of TikTok to appease China hawks in the US is unexpected.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for appease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appease
Verb
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This is a dense, unforgiving movie in the classic sense, an adults-only drama that doesn’t placate despite its stylistic overreaches.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
28 Sep. 2025
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Why placate someone and, as a result, not enjoy myself as much?—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Flowers are a sweet gesture from a friend who wants to celebrate your successes or comfort you when times are tough.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
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There’s something comforting about the spectacle of their comfort.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most sprays are made with 20 to 35% of this magnesium chloride solution, and some formulators may include humectants like glycerin and other soothing agents to offset the dryness and stickiness that the magnesium oil might have.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
10 Oct. 2025
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The production, which toured the country, made its debut just after the Civil War, when its pastoral setting and evocation of the Founding may have soothed audiences still scarred by sectional conflict.—
John Swansburg,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There’s so much to love about this crowd-pleasing appetizer—here are a few ways to dial up the flavor, save time, and enjoy this dip in new ways.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
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But Moyes will be pleased by the impact made by his substitutes against Palace, Alcaraz chief among them.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To keep the Russian public pacified, the Kremlin ran its military campaign by recruiting volunteers, who were paid quite well, including criminals avoiding prison.—
Nina Khrushcheva,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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That transformed the industry by giving it a clear American base — and by pacifying agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission that had been, under Biden, openly hostile.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rulers on the Nile did not rely solely on their own human powers but worshipped and propitiated a natural world that was alive with gods.—
Vanessa Taylor,
Big Think,
25 Sep. 2025
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The credulous faith that these superpowers will voluntarily settle for some form of peaceful coexistence, if only they are sufficiently propitiated with concessions, is naive and dangerous.—
Michael Miklaucic,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Republicans, including Trump, have traditionally pressed the UN to reform its sluggish bureaucracies, and Guterres is pushing a reform program aimed in part at mollifying the US, which remains the institution’s biggest donor.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
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Live records could also be a way of fulfilling a contractual obligation (too many examples to cite) or a way to mollify fans who were going to have to wait a while for another studio record (Fleetwood Mac’s 1980’s concert record, which bridged the gap between Tusk and Mirage).—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not nearly as greasy as a true balm, but richer than your typical face cream, this drugstore darling instantly soothes dry, chapped skin with the help of emollient shea butter, moisturizing vitamin B5, and calming madecassoside (a derivative of our fave, Centella asiastica, or cica for short).—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
9 Oct. 2025
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Accent the backyard decor with calming shades of brown, gold, and orange.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Appease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appease. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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