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

But Democrats will have to find a way to channel the prevailing public anger instead of attempting to bypass or assuage it.

From Slate

Everyone I know in politics calls these necessary to assuage “independents” and tells me to ignore them.

From Slate

“Thanks for being here today. You know, there are an awful lot of very, thoughtful Republicans, sort of conservative Democrats too I imagine, who really want to embrace your candidacy. But they struggle with your embracing of Donald Trump for your comments after the FBI reclaimed the government records that were found in his place at Mar-a-Lago. What can you say to assuage the concerns of those who are really good, thinking, decent Republicans, and who are a little bit afraid of another January 6?”

From Salon

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

Related Words

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