Synonyms of appease

appease

verb

ə-ˈpēz 

as in to placate

to lessen the anger or agitation of

a game often appeases an upset toddler

Synonyms & Similar Words

• placate
• comfort
• soothe
• please
• pacify
• propitiate
• mollify
• calm
• assuage
• conciliate
• satisfy
• console
• disarm
• delight
• gentle
• ingratiate
• quiet
• gratify
• satiate
• coax
• tranquilize
• content
• indulge
• tranquillize
• sate
• gladden
• cajole
• endear (to)
• flatter
• spoil
• quench
• hush
• cater (to)
• baby
• wheedle
• humor
• pamper
• coddle
• sweeten
• soft-soap
• overpraise
• adulate
• sweet-talk
• mollycoddle
• blandish
• blarney
• dulcify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anger
• inflame
• infuriate
• annoy
• get
• outrage
• enrage
• antagonize
• bother
• irritate
• aggravate
• provoke
• put out
• ire
• rile
• cross
• burn (up)
• irk
• rouse
• rankle
• vex
• pique
• exasperate
• bug
• enflame
• ruffle
• harass
• chafe
• grate
• gall
• persecute
• pester
• disturb
• incense
• upset
• worry
• roil
• offend
• agitate
• madden
• distress
• discomfort
• unsettle
• perturb
• harry
• slight
• insult
• fret
• peeve
• nettle
• affront
• unhinge

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

Recent Examples of appease

The defense did little to appease Espaillat, who said the NRCC’s attack was just the latest example of Republican disdain for immigrants as the GOP has shifted toward more isolationist policies under President Trump. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025

So far, the U.S. peace strategy has seemed to rest on appeasing the Kremlin — promising territorial concessions, parroting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s talking points and trash-talking the transatlantic alliance. —Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2025

Return hubs are not a solution to our problems related to migration, but rather populism to appease the extreme right. —Frey Lindsay, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions over whether expanding ties with Greenland would appease Trump’s ambitions, though on Sunday Trump reiterated his position on the island nation. —Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025