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
• tranquilize
• coax
• content
• indulge
• sate
• gladden
• cajole
• endear (to)
• flatter
• quench
• spoil
• 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
• 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 fickle pop public Cyrus once wanted to appease no longer seems to no longer have any leverage over her. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Growing up, many of us remember dutifully taking a few more bites of protein (and, of course, vegetables) to appease our moms before we were allowed to progress to the sweet, carb-heavy goodness of dessert. — Jennifer Byrne, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

Brizé’s latest is about a woman swimming in the turbulent waters of middle management, trying to both appease her superiors and deal with problematic employees who can’t seem to get along. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Years of appeasing Vladimir Putin easily qualify for that mantle. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026