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GRE vocabulary

assuage

verbHigh-frequency wordMore A words

to ease or relieve an unpleasant feeling

Word origin: From Old French assouagier, to soften (Latin ad- to plus suavis sweet).

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In a sentence

Assuage in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing assuage in a sentence.

A sincere apology did much to assuage her hurt feelings.

A few reassuring words from the surgeon did much to assuage the family's fears.

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Verbal · Text Completion

The committee's report was praised for its candor, yet its central recommendation was so blank that administrators could cite it to justify nearly any policy they had already resolved to pursue.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “assuage” well

Assuage means to ease an unpleasant feeling such as grief, hunger, or guilt, making it less intense. It pairs with emotions and appetites rather than concrete obstacles.

Common questions

Questions about “assuage”

Assuage (verb) means to ease or relieve an unpleasant feeling
Here is assuage used in an example sentence: "A sincere apology did much to assuage her hurt feelings." Another example: "A few reassuring words from the surgeon did much to assuage the family's fears."
Common synonyms for assuage include alleviate, soothe, mollify.
Antonyms of assuage include aggravate, intensify, exacerbate.
Assuage clusters with alleviate, soothe, and mollify in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms aggravate, intensify, and exacerbate signal the heightening a passage may contrast against it.
Yes. Assuage is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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