appeasement

noun

ap·​pease·​ment ə-ˈpēz-mənt How to pronounce appeasement (audio)
plural appeasements
1
: the act or action of appeasing someone or something
… one tribe may go in for the appeasement of local ghosts …W. D. Howells
especially : a policy of appeasing an enemy or potential aggressor by making concessions
Although appeasement may work in individual cases, terrorist groups with global ambitions cannot be appeased by territorial concessions. Walter Laqueur
The Munich analogy—recalling the Allies' appeasement of Germany over its demands on Czechoslovakia in 1938—has been cited again and again, and this is understandable. Fredric Smoler
2
: the state of being satisfied
an experience from which he derived little appeasement
… we are relieved to read of Shaw … alleviating the tedium of a vegetarian diet with secret gorges on boiled sweets and cake; his sensuality found appeasement in sugar.Robertson Davies

Examples of appeasement in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This can push you into appeasement rather than authentic decision-making, reinforcing the idea that love must be earned rather than freely given. Mark Travers, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 In the climate of fear around Mr. Trump, appeasement and trying to maintain access seems to be Latin America’s response for the time being, Mr. Sabatini added. Annie Correal, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 Or when our best friends on Earth compare Trump's approach in Europe to Nazi appeasement? Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025 Piper and Saxon are locked in battle for Lochy’s soul and Lochy has chosen appeasement. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for appeasement

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of appeasement was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Appeasement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appeasement. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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