allay
6 synonyms and 6 antonyms for allay, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make a strong feeling, such as fear or worry, calmer or less severe.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To make a strong feeling, such as fear or worry, calmer or less severe.
“to allay popular excitement”
Opposites
2. verb
To make something unpleasant less severe.
“to allay the severity of affliction or the bitterness of adversity”
Opposites
Etymology
This word came into English through Middle English alayen, aleyen, aleggen, which developed from Old English āleċġan (“to put, place, lay down, lay aside, throw down, give up, cease from, abandon; put down, allay, suppress, abolish, conquer, destroy, overcome, refute; lay upon, inflict, impose upon; diminish, take away...
Full origin of allay →