as in placating
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
we had been feuding with the people next door, so inviting them to the party was intended as an appeasing gesture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of
a game often appeases an upset toddler
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 appeasing
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Court life required appeasing those in power, often rulers with little understanding of music.
—Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The move is aimed at appeasing moderate Republicans who are trying to force votes, through what is known as a discharge petition, on separate pieces of legislation to extend the tax credits for one to two years with reforms.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
Over the past months, Iranian officials have tried to carefully balance negotiations with Trump while appeasing factions across the country’s diverse political landscape, including the Paydari group.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Court life required appeasing those in power, often rulers with little understanding of music.
—Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.
—Riley Gaines Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
The move is aimed at appeasing moderate Republicans who are trying to force votes, through what is known as a discharge petition, on separate pieces of legislation to extend the tax credits for one to two years with reforms.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appeasing
Adjective
-
But for many Lebanese — especially Shiites who form the backbone of Hezbollah’s support — Iran’s willingness to go to war for Hezbollah contrasts sharply with the government’s conciliatory policies toward Israel, and not in the government’s favor.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Bilton attempted to set a conciliatory tone at Monday's meeting — his first with the show.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Brittney Brimway and her three children were on a flight from Los Angeles to Turks and Caicos with a layover in New York City when her son woke her up with some less-than-comforting news.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
The beauty lies in moderation — taking a moment to appreciate their comforting properties.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The set comes in over 10 colors, including a summer-ready coral and soothing sage green.—
Better Homes & Gardens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
-
There’s a cosmic irony in referencing Yoshimura, whose soothing compositions were famously commissioned to accompany showrooms for model homes in Japan in the 1980s and have since become synonymous with domestic comfort.—
Harry Thorfinn-George,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Putin has struggled to manage fighting Kyiv on the one hand and placating domestic constituencies on the other.—
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
-
In your opinion, should the shop have handled this differently—perhaps compensating or at least placating me?—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Sadly, Pennywise is not a benevolent creature.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
-
Others prioritize self-interest, often cloaked in benevolent language.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Creators Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest lend an auteur’s touch to the material, creating something that stands on its own while still bearing some of the MCU’s crowd pleasing flourishes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 June 2026
-
Start by picking a film that fits the season and your guests, like a crowd-pleasing summer blockbuster, a cult classic, or a vintage thriller.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The largely peaceful celebration radiated out into the streets around the Garden, with some fans climbing on street signs and jumping on top of vehicles.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
The demonstration, which had been previously organized by a hodgepodge of activist groups after weeks of negotiations with local authorities, was otherwise peaceful — with environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, supporters of Palestinians and foes of imperialism, fascism and capitalism.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Sensory gardens with calming nature sounds, plants kids are welcome to touch and benches are available to help guests reset in a less stimulating environment.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
CosRx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster isn’t just about packing in as many peptides as possible—each peptide has a different job, from supporting elasticity and smoothing fine lines to calming skin and boosting radiance.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Appeasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appeasing. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
