assuage

[ uh-sweyj, uh-sweyzh ]

verb (used with object)

, as·suaged, as·suag·ing.

1. to make milder or less severe; alleviate; ease; mitigate:

   to assuage one's grief;

   to assuage one's pain.

   Synonyms: relieve, lessen, diminish, allay

2. to appease; satisfy; sate:

   to assuage one's hunger.

3. to soothe, calm, or mollify:

   to assuage his fears;

   to assuage her anger.

assuage

/ əˈsweɪdʒ; əˈsweɪsɪv /

verb

1. to soothe, moderate, or relieve (grief, pain, etc)
2. to give relief to (thirst, appetite, etc); satisfy
3. to pacify; calm

Derived Forms

• asˈsuager, noun
• asˈsuagement, noun
• assuasive, adjective

Other Words From

• as·suage·ment noun
• as·suag·er noun
• un·as·suag·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of assuage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English aswagen, from Old French asouagier, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin assuāviāre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + -suāviāre, verbal derivative of Latin suāvis “agreeable to the taste, pleasant” ( suave; akin to sweet )

Word History and Origins

Origin of assuage¹

C14: from Old French assouagier, from Vulgar Latin assuāviāre (unattested) to sweeten, from Latin suāvis pleasant; see suave

Example Sentences

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said: "The effect of Eli's death on those who loved him is evident. Nothing this court can do will assuage their overwhelming sense of loss."

From BBC

But what Trump said himself during the campaign has not exactly assuaged people’s fears.

From BBC

But he's not the one who will be deciding US foreign policy, and nor is his answer likely to assuage doubts.

From BBC

Statistics showing that violent crime is trending down have done little to assuage that sentiment.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just one more obstacle Harris will have to overcome, along with assuaging Americans' concerns about the economy and immigration - where polls indicate Trump has the advantage.

From BBC

Related Words

• allay
• alleviate
• appease
• lessen
• mitigate
• mollify
• pacify
• placate
• quench
• sate
• satisfy
• soften
• temper