verb Uncommon

appease

uh-PEEZ

Appease (verb) means to calm someone down or make them less angry, especially by giving them what they want. Example: “He tried to appease his boss by working through the weekend.”

verb

To calm someone down or make them less angry, especially by giving them what they want.

"He tried to appease his boss by working through the weekend."

"The government offered tax cuts to appease angry voters."

How to use appease

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo calm someone's anger or demands, usually by giving in to what they want.

Common mistake

Often carries a negative undertone, implying giving in too easily rather than resolving the real problem — as in the historical "appeasement" of aggressive powers before WWII.

Common pairings

appease critics appease the crowd try to appease

Word forms

appeased past tense, appeases singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “appease” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He tried to _____ his boss by working through the weekend.

Etymology

From Old French apeser, "to bring to peace," related to Latin pax ("peace").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

stay gentle quell pacify assuage placate lenify mollify gruntle conciliate propitiate

Antonyms

antagonize

Related words

end stop wait stay peace remain serve fly

Rhymes for appease

case base mase vase ease tase Jase erase cease phase pease chase

See all rhymes for appease →

Frequently asked questions

What does “appease” mean?

The word “appease” means to calm someone down or make them less angry, especially by giving them what they want. In plain terms, to calm someone's anger or demands, usually by giving in to what they want.

How do you pronounce “appease”?

“Appease” is pronounced uh-PEEZ (/əˈpiːz/ in IPA).

How do you use “appease” in a sentence?

Here is “appease” used in a sentence: “He tried to appease his boss by working through the weekend.”

What is the opposite of “appease”?

The opposite of “appease” — its antonyms — is antagonize.

What part of speech is “appease”?

“Appease” is a verb.

Where does the word “appease” come from?

The word “appease” comes from Latin. From Old French apeser, "to bring to peace," related to Latin pax ("peace").

Is “appease” a common word?

“Appease” is an uncommon word in modern English.

People also searched

end stop wait stay peace remain serve fly