Assuage
hardPositive toneuh-SWAYJ
verb
Definition
To make an unpleasant feeling less intense; to satisfy an appetite or desire
Memory hook
A-SAUSAGE: A warm sausage roll can assuage your hunger -- it eases the discomfort.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The manager tried to assuage employees' concerns about job security.”
“Nothing could assuage his guilt over the mistake.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The manager tried to ______ employees' concerns about job security.”
Show answer
assuage
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Assuage is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "alleviate" or "soothe" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "aggravate".
Related GRE Words
pacify
To bring peace to; to calm down; to appease
palliate
to make less severe without removing the cause; to ease or mitigate
ameliorate
To make something bad or unsatisfactory better
mollify
To appease the anger or anxiety of someone
propitiate
to appease or win the goodwill of
alleviate
To make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe
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