verb
-
to fill or supply beyond capacity or desire, often arousing weariness
-
to supply to satisfaction or capacity
Other Word Forms
- nonsatiation noun
- satiation noun
- unsatiating adjective
Etymology
Origin of satiate
1400–50; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin satiātus (past participle of satiāre to satisfy), equivalent to sati- enough (akin to sad ) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
If you just can't get enough popcorn, even the jumbo tub at the movie theater may not be enough to satiate, or satisfy, your desire. Satiate is often used in situations in which a thirst, craving, or need is satisfied. However, when satiate is used to describe eating, it can take on a more negative, or even disgusted, tone. If you comment that the diners at the world's largest all-you-can eat buffet were satiated, you might not mean that they were merely satisfied. You could be implying that they've been gluttons, and that they are now overstuffed with fried chicken wings and mac and cheese.
Vocabulary lists containing satiate
Frankenstein
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Grade 11, List 1
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The Scarlet Letter
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But “we make it very challenging to build enough homes to satiate the demand,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
You despaired because buying merchandise—both Fanatics’ own and products it retails—did not satiate your appetite to do e-commerce with this company.
From Slate • Mar. 7, 2025
When it comes to comfort food, Tsai is a master, with elevated, varied recipes that will satiate and soothe.
From Salon • Dec. 14, 2023
"The Qantas board was too slow to read the room, and failed to satiate investor concerns despite the departure of the company's CEO, three directors, and Mr Goyder's belated decision to vacate his chairmanship".
From Reuters • Nov. 3, 2023
Days became weeks, until at last they ran out of food and water and were in barren lands where no amount of foraging might satiate their appetites.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
