appease

[ uh-peez ]

verb (used with object)

, ap·peased, ap·peas·ing.

1. to bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm, or contentment; pacify; soothe:

   to appease an angry king.

   Synonyms: placate, calm

   Antonyms: enrage

2. to satisfy, allay, or relieve; assuage:

   The fruit appeased his hunger.

   Antonyms: sharpen, arouse, increase

3. to yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person, etc.) in a conciliatory effort, sometimes at the expense of justice or other principles.

   Antonyms: defy

appease

/ əˈpiːz /

verb

1. to calm, pacify, or soothe, esp by acceding to the demands of
2. to satisfy or quell (an appetite or thirst, etc)

Derived Forms

• apˈpeaser, noun
• apˈpeasable, adjective

Other Words From

• ap·peasa·ble adjective
• ap·peasa·ble·ness noun
• ap·peasa·bly adverb
• ap·peasement noun
• ap·peaser noun
• ap·peasing·ly adverb
• nonap·peasa·ble adjective
• nonap·peasing adjective
• unap·peasa·ble adjective
• unap·peasa·bly adverb
• unap·peased adjective
• unap·peasing adjective
• unap·peasing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of appease¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English apesen, from Anglo-French apeser, Old French apais(i)er; equivalent to a- ⁵ + peace

Word History and Origins

Origin of appease¹

C16: from Old French apaisier, from pais peace, from Latin pax

Synonym Study

Appease, conciliate, propitiate imply trying to preserve or obtain peace. To appease is to make anxious overtures and often undue concessions to satisfy the demands of someone with a greed for power, territory, etc.: Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler at Munich. To conciliate is to win an enemy or opponent over by displaying a willingness to be just and fair: When mutual grievances are recognized, conciliation is possible. To propitiate is to admit a fault, and, by trying to make amends, to allay hostile feeling: to propitiate an offended neighbor.

Example Sentences

He argued in a social media post that Latino politicians were using the term “to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias.”

From Los Angeles Times

Sir Jon Thompson told a rail industry conference the bat protection structure in Buckinghamshire was needed to appease Natural England, as bats are legally protected in the UK.

From BBC

But if the appearance of extreme objectivity is all that it takes to bridge the journalism trust gap and appease the Trumpist right, then why haven’t the various stand-alone fact-checking platforms already unlocked this achievement?

From Slate

So why not do everything you can to appease the folks on the other side of the aisle?

From Slate

In his art, he does so to appease that lingering sense of curiosity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allay
• alleviate
• assuage
• blunt
• calm
• lessen
• mitigate
• mollify
• placate
• quell
• soften
• soothe