allay

verb

al·​lay a-ˈlā 

ə-

allayed; allaying; allays

transitive verb

1

: to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity : alleviate

expect a breeze to allay the heat

2

: to make quiet : calm

trying to allay their fears

intransitive verb

obsolete : to diminish in strength : subside

Synonyms

• alleviate
• assuage
• ease
• help
• mitigate
• mollify
• palliate
• relieve
• soothe

Choose the Right Synonym for allay

relieve, alleviate, lighten, assuage, mitigate, allay mean to make something less grievous.

relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

Examples of allay in a Sentence

The new advertising campaign is an attempt to allay the public's concerns about the safety of the company's products.

a gentle breeze would allay the heat

Recent Examples on the Web

But then, too, there was the assurance, the confidence, in the accounts of the biologists as remedy to allay suspicion. —Jeff Vandermeer, WIRED, 22 Oct. 2024

Nonetheless, in two out of two Presidential election cycles, the protocol has failed to allay accusations of a partisan agenda. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

This key distinction was not enough to allay the concerns of some squirrel-sensitive New Mexicans, however. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2024

With these concerns largely allayed, U.S. policymakers could reach for deeper levels of cooperation, opening the door to compromises and understandings throughout the rest of the decade on a wide range of issues involving Southeast Asian politics, the Korean Peninsula, and arms control. —Joshua Byun, Foreign Affairs, 18 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alayen, from Old English ālecgan, from ā- (perfective prefix) + lecgan to lay — more at abide, lay

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Kids Definition

allay

verb

al·​lay a-ˈlā 

ə-

allayed; allaying

1

: to make less severe : relieve

allay pain

2

: to make quiet : calm

allay fears