allay

verb

a-ˈlā How to pronounce allay (audio)
Definition of allaynext
as in to alleviate
to make more bearable or less severe a gentle breeze would allay the heat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word allay different from other verbs like it?

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.

allayed their fears

When is it sensible to use alleviate instead of allay?

The synonyms alleviate and allay are sometimes interchangeable, but alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

Where would assuage be a reasonable alternative to allay?

Although the words assuage and allay have much in common, assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When is lighten a more appropriate choice than allay?

In some situations, the words lighten and allay are roughly equivalent. However, lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When could mitigate be used to replace allay?

While in some cases nearly identical to allay, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

When would relieve be a good substitute for allay?

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.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of allay ByteDance worked for years to allay the government’s concerns and ensure TikTok in the U.S. is protected from Chinese interference, a multibillion-dollar effort called Project Texas. — Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Jan. 2025 Last April, a CPW official sought to allay their fears at a meeting in Gypsum. — John Meyer, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2025 There are some financial backstops that can help allay such displacement costs. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 Feb. 2025 Fears Leeds United would lose Pascal Struijk until April with a hamstring injury have been allayed. — Beren Cross, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for allay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for allay
  1. alleviate
  2. relieve
  3. help
  4. soothe
  5. mitigate
  6. ease
Verb
  • The people and the government will do everything in their power to at least slightly alleviate their pain and help them in these most difficult moments.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Over time, building up your core strength can alleviate low-back pain, improve posture, improve sports performance, prevent injuries, and manage pelvic floor dysfunction.
    — Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • Such a process might appear wasteful and unnecessary to an impatient capitalist like Ramaswamy, who yearns only to relieve patients of their pain and suffering.
    — Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Building an atmospheric river control spillway at New Bullards Bar Dam would target reducing peak flows downstream and relieving stress on the levee system during heavy atmospheric river events, said John James, Yuba Water’s director of resource planning, in the news release.
    — Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of relieve
Verb
  • Partner with Industry Collaborating with businesses and organizations can help colleges design curricula that align with workforce needs, ensuring graduates are job-ready.
    — Scott White, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Finally, at the end of a long, frustrating road back from a viral illness, Porziņģis helped rescue Boston in the fourth quarter of a 115-113 win against the Brooklyn Nets.
    — Jay King, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of help
Verb
  • Artificial tears may be recommended to soothe watery eyes due to dry eye.
    — Maxine Lipner, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Eucalyptus oil clears your head (perfect for the A.M.), while spearmint uplifts, soothing your skin and sinuses for a just-right balance of calming and energizing.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of soothe
Verb
  • Spotting these signs as soon as possible can help mitigate other potential issues, such as overwatering areas of the yard, underwatering entire sprinkler zones, or increasing water bills.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Below are four practical strategies boards can adopt to ensure their AI initiatives thrive while mitigating risks.
    — Rohan Sharma, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • Offer Remote Work Rewards One way HR leaders can ease return-to-office pushback is by giving employees more control.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • The couple’s waiter (Search Party’s Jeffrey Self), is an aspiring stand-up comic, whose clumsiness on the job helps ease their apprehensiveness.
    — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of ease

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“Allay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/allay. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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