allay

[uh-ley] / əˈleɪ /

VERB

reduce something, usually a pain or a problem

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate assuage calm ease lessen mitigate mollify pacify

STRONG

abate compose decrease lighten moderate quiet square

WEAK

cool out make nice play up to pour oil on take the bite out take the sting out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate upset worry worsen

STRONG

enlarge

WEAK

provoke stir

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Executives of KKR on Tuesday sought to allay concerns about the firm’s private-credit business.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Ultimately, the FDA decided not enough data existed to allay the known safety concerns.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

These have done little to allay her worries.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

President Trump moved to allay those concerns on Friday, meeting with defense industry executives.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

He must affect ignorance to allay the King’s suspicions.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Vocabulary lists containing allay

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Grade 11, List 6

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Twelfth Night

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!