verb

assuage

uh-SWAYJ

verb

To make an unpleasant feeling, such as fear, guilt, or grief, less intense.

"Her kind words helped assuage his guilt."

"The company issued a statement to assuage investors' fears."

To satisfy a need or appetite, such as hunger or thirst.

"A quick snack assuaged his hunger until dinner."

How to Use Assuage

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo ease or calm a bad feeling, or to satisfy a need.

Memory tip

Almost always used with negative feelings — fear, guilt, grief, anger — that get softened, not with positive ones.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

assuage fears assuage guilt assuage concerns

assuaged past tense, assuages singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Her kind words helped _____ his guilt.

From Old French asuagier ("to calm, appease"), from Vulgar Latin *assuaviare, from Latin ad- plus suavis ("sweet, pleasant").

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