Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

appease

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of
  • Playing a game often appeases an upset toddler.
Synonyms of appease

assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate
Words Related to appease

calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

endear (to), ingratiate

delight, gladden, gratify, please

cater (to), humor, indulge

blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle

baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil
Near Antonyms of appease

aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex

provoke, rouse

harass, harry, persecute, pester

agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

affront, insult, offend, slight
Antonyms of appease

anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

Synonym Discussion of appease

pacify, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of. pacify suggests a soothing or calming.
    • pacified by a sincere apology
appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.
    • appease their territorial ambitions
placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.
    • a move to placate local opposition
mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.
    • a speech that mollified the demonstrators
propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.
    • propitiated his parents by dressing up
conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.
    • conciliating the belligerent nations

Learn More about appease

  1. Dictionary: Definition of appease Spanish Central: Translation of appease Nglish: Translation of appease for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of appease for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up appease? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games