appease

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 Hearing held to 'appease' defendant Campbell’s plea withdrawal eventually went before Judge Leslie Ghiz. Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct. 2025 Nevertheless, Ed still idolized Augusta and would grow to become obsessed with appeasing her, according to Biography. Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025 Such a move could help appease the United Auto Workers union, who have held previous talks on the matter with Stellantis. Gabrielle Coppola, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025 Policies supposed to appease farmers destroyed their land and water. Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for appease
Verb
  • The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Investors, though, weren’t placated by the explanation as Netflix’s shares still fell by about 6% in extended trading after the numbers came out.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Gooey butter cake is beloved for its, well, gooey texture and warm, comforting flavors that are decadent but not fussy or overwhelming.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Both broke down in tears after Ali’s rejection and were comforted by their families.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The cool temperature may also soothe sore gums.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Aloe vera instantly soothes dryness, while jojoba, camellia, and almond oils keep your lips plush, soft, and supported.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In short, queso brings the heat and texture, while cheese dip focuses on velvety, crowd-pleasing comfort.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
  • That’s why my NYT Cooking colleague Margaux Laskey has created a collection of kid-friendly recipes to please whole families — children and adults, eating the same meal in harmony.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Gators raced out to a 13-7 lead against the Bulldogs after two quarters, but fans were not pacified by the product on the field.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • To keep the Russian public pacified, the Kremlin ran its military campaign by recruiting volunteers, who were paid quite well, including criminals avoiding prison.
    Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
  • That didn’t mollify Pleasant View neighbors, like Nancy Pate, who attended that August meeting and beseeched the commissioners not to sign off on housing at the Glo Park site.
    John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Republicans, including Trump, have traditionally pressed the UN to reform its sluggish bureaucracies, and Guterres is pushing a reform program aimed in part at mollifying the US, which remains the institution’s biggest donor.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • If curating a regular and calming wind-down routine each night is not helping, talk to your doctor.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Other Democrats from Milwaukee have proposed $60 million in state grants for traffic calming infrastructure.
    Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Appease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/appease. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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