definitions

appease

[ uh-peez ]
/ əˈpiz /
||

verb (used with object), ap·peased, ap·peas·ing.

to bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm, or contentment; pacify; soothe: to appease an angry king.
to satisfy, allay, or relieve; assuage: The fruit appeased his hunger.
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.

Nearby words

appealing, appear, appear as, appearance, appearance money, appease, appeasement, appel, appellant, appellate, appellate division

Origin of appease

1300–50; Middle English apesen < Anglo-French apeser, Old French apais(i)er, equivalent to a- a-5 + paisi- peace + -er infinitive suffix

SYNONYMS FOR appease

1 calm, placate.

ANTONYMS FOR appease

1 enrage.
2 increase, arouse, sharpen.
3 defy.

Related forms

Synonym study

3. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for appeasingly

  • “I was,” replied the Doctor, returning his glance with so keen an eye that the man smiled again, appeasingly.

    Dr. Sevier|George W. Cable

  • He added, appeasingly, "That's why I was so keen on getting you for tea."

    The Fortieth Door|Mary Hastings Bradley

  • Then, appeasingly: “Mrs. Kingdon said it would be better if only you and she knew who I am and why I am here at the ranch.”

    Penny of Top Hill Trail|Belle Kanaris Maniates

  • "Don't let yourself get sore, Barney," Old Jimmie said appeasingly.

    Children of the Whirlwind|Leroy Scott

British Dictionary definitions for appeasingly

appease

/ (əˈpiːz) /

verb (tr)

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

Derived Forms

appeasable, adjectiveappeaser, noun

Word Origin for appease

C16: from Old French apaisier, from pais peace, from Latin pax
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012