allay
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- alleviate
- assuage
- ease
- help
- mitigate
- mollify
- palliate
- relieve
- soothe
Example Sentences
John Buckingham, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 That's why the relationship, the longitudinal relationship that family physicians have, and pediatricians have, over time helps allay that fear. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 9 Aug. 2022 In a press release last week, HHS sought to allay worries with some advice that sounds reassuring. Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, 9 July 2022 The Swedish government has sought to allay concerns that the deal would lead to extraditions to Turkey without due process. Zeynep Bilginsoy, ajc, 30 June 2022 The health ministry spokesman, Wojciech Andrusiewicz, sought to allay concerns, saying only medical professionals will have access to the data, and that the changes are being made at the recommendation of the European Union. Vanessa Gera, BostonGlobe.com, 6 June 2022 During a media briefing on Sunday afternoon, Zikalala took the opportunity to allay fears around the possible looting of funds. Liezl Thom, ABC News, 18 Apr. 2022 With the ball now back in Moscow's court, the West was given little immediate sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin would seek to de-escalate tensions and allay fears of a deadly new conflict. NBC News, 27 Jan. 2022 Other clubs, struggling to persuade their holdouts to be vaccinated, have been offered visits from experts eager to answer questions and allay fears. New York Times, 22 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Middle English alayen, from Old English ālecgan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + lecgan to lay — more at abide, lay
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Kids Definition
allay
verb
allay
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- alleviate
- relieve
- soothe
- help
- mitigate
- ease
- assuage
- soften
- mollify
- palliate
- cure
- heal
- improve
- temper
- remedy
- enhance
- moderate
- lighten
- abate
- ameliorate
- rectify
- correct
- better
- amend
- repair
- refine
- enrich
- reform
- fix
- perfect
- emend
- meliorate
- mend
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impair
- exacerbate
- aggravate
- hurt
- harm
- injure
- intensify
- heighten
- sharpen
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of allay are alleviate, assuage, lighten, mitigate, and relieve. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.
The synonyms alleviate and allay are sometimes interchangeable, but alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.
Although the words assuage and allay have much in common, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.
In some situations, the words lighten and allay are roughly equivalent. However, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.
While in some cases nearly identical to allay, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.
The words relieve and allay are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.