Appease
Parents, diplomats, and anyone buying a noisy toy at the grocery store know this short-term peace has a price tag.
Learn This WordMeaning
To pacify or satisfy someone by agreeing to demands; to calm anger or anxiety.
Memory trick
APPEASE has "peace" in it, to bring someone toward peace.
Examples
They offered credits to appease frustrated customers.
A quick patch might appease users, but a rewrite may still be needed.
She tried to appease tensions before the meeting escalated.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Old French apaisier "to bring to peace," from a- "to" + pais "peace."
Usage Notes
Can imply short-term peace at the cost of long-term principles, depending on context.
Real-life contexts
Use in support: "We can appease concerns quickly with clear communication."
Use for trade-offs: "Don’t just appease complaints, fix root causes."
Use in conflict: "The apology helped appease both teams."
Common Mistakes
Appease is not always positive; it can suggest avoiding the real issue.
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Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
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