APPEASE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'appease' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of appease are conciliate , mollify , pacify , placate , and propitiate . While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions. // appease their territorial ambitions

Q: Where would 'conciliate' be a reasonable alternative to 'appease'?

The meanings of conciliate and appease largely overlap; however, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences. // conciliating the belligerent nations

Q: When can 'mollify' be used instead of 'appease'?

The synonyms mollify and appease are sometimes interchangeable, but mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger. // a speech that mollified the demonstrators

Q: When is 'pacify' a more appropriate choice than 'appease'?

The words pacify and appease can be used in similar contexts, but pacify suggests a soothing or calming. // pacified by a sincere apology

Q: When might 'placate' be a better fit than 'appease'?

While in some cases nearly identical to appease , placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill. // a move to placate local opposition

Q: When would 'propitiate' be a good substitute for 'appease'?

The words propitiate and appease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being. // propitiated his parents by dressing up

appease

verb

ə-ˈpēz

Definition of appease

as in to placate

to lessen the anger or agitation of a game often appeases an upset toddler

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb appease differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of appease are conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

Where would conciliate be a reasonable alternative to appease?

The meanings of conciliate and appease largely overlap; however, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When can mollify be used instead of appease?

The synonyms mollify and appease are sometimes interchangeable, but mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When is pacify a more appropriate choice than appease?

The words pacify and appease can be used in similar contexts, but pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

When might placate be a better fit than appease?

While in some cases nearly identical to appease, placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When would propitiate be a good substitute for appease?

The words propitiate and appease are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

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 appease Columbus isn’t going to just move a Norris Trophy winner to appease the player. — Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 27 June 2026 Tauruses usually follow the rules and do what is suggested to thrive and prosper because appeasing others is easier than arguing. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Feeling slightly out of place amid this crowd is Annie, here on a lark to appease her sister. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 19 June 2026 Neither Cola’s guilt over her actions nor her reasons for doing them appeased Carrie. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for appease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for appease

Verb

The play was sent to VAR and the penalty awarded, but the Brazilians in the stands and in the press box were only mostly placated by this development.

— Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
But the vote was a clear signal to the president from Republican senators who still want to placate him, despite increasing tensions in recent weeks and his decision Wednesday morning to reverse himself and delay signing a housing bill that received overwhelming bipartisan support.

— Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026

Definition of placate

Verb

There are other means and methods as well, some of which may be combined, to alleviate stress and comfort your furry friend.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
The upscale American restaurant in SoHo is known for comforting dishes like a French dip sandwich and an ice cream sundae, as well as its savory sour-cream-and-onion martini from the cocktail menu.

— Lily Boyce, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of comfort

Verb

The Hot Stone Massage is the ultimate R&R, using warm volcanic stones to calm and soothe aching muscles in a full-body, 60- or 90-minute massage.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
The Lillian Area Rug is both grounding and soothing thanks to its cool blue hue; the intricate Persian pattern adds lots of charm, making the rug look more unique and storied.

— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

Making price info less accessible The order to be voted on later this month includes a few other changes that will please ISPs and their lobby groups.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Oviedo residents turned out by the hundreds for the sunny afternoon of crowd-pleasing contests and down-home edibles at tiny booths lining a grassy lot next to the Meat World parking lot.

— Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026

Definition of please

Verb

But Syria, a regime still trying to get its legs under it, is not going to march next door and pacify Lebanon—especially not with Israel occupying parts of Syria.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
And under President Barack Obama, who was all talk and no action, Iran got rich selling sanction-less oil to China even as Obama sent planeloads of cash to pacify Iran.

— Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of pacify

Verb

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
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

Definition of propitiate

Verb

The denial was a hit to Wilber’s spirit, but Yadira tried to calm the restless teenager.

— Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
On the skin-care front, hyaluronic acid and glycerin help draw in and lock in moisture, while soothing tiger grass helps support the skin barrier and calm the look of irritation.

— Deanna Pai, Vogue, 10 July 2026

Definition of calm

Browse Nearby Words

appeasable

appease

appeased

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Appease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appease. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of appease

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on appease

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fulcrum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes