assuage
To make something less intense or severe; to ease or calm
Examples
In a meeting
“We need to assuage client concerns about the timeline before they escalate to management.”
Over coffee
“I tried to assuage her anxiety about the interview by reminding her how qualified she is.”
Why this word
relieve
assuage specifically means making less intense or severe, relieve is broader and less formal
calm
calm addresses emotional state, assuage means satisfying or easing pain, hunger, or desire
ease
ease is general reduction of difficulty, assuage specifically means soothing or appeasing
Usage tip
Use when you want to sound more sophisticated than 'calm down' or 'make better.' Works well with abstract concerns like fears, doubts, or guilt.
Etymology
Latin 'assuaviare' from 'ad-' (to) + 'suavis' (sweet, pleasant)
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Open to more than one interpretation; not clear or decided.
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