satiate

1 of 2

adjective

sa·​tiate ˈsā-sh(ē-)ət 

: filled to satiety

satiate

2 of 2

verb

sa·​ti·​ate ˈsā-shē-ˌāt 

satiated; satiating

transitive verb

: to satisfy (a need, a desire, etc.) fully or to excess

satiation

ˌsā-shē-ˈā-shən 

ˌsā-sē-

noun

Did you know?

The time has come at last to share the “sad” history of satiate, by which we mean that the two words—sad and satiate—are etymologically connected, not that the details will have you reaching for the tissue box. Both satiate and sad are related to the Latin adjective satis, meaning “enough.” When we say our desire, thirst, curiosity, etc. has been satiated, we mean it has been fully satisfied (satisfy being another satis descendant)—in other words, we’ve had enough. Satiate and sate (believed to be an alteration and shortening of satiate) sometimes imply simple contentment, but often suggest that having enough has dulled interest or desire for more, as in “Years of globe-trotting satiated their interest in travel.” Sad, which in its earliest use could describe someone who was weary or tired of something, traces back to the Old English adjective sæd, meaning “sated,” and sæd shares an ancient root with Latin satis.

Synonyms

Adjective

• full
• replete
• sated
• satiated
• stuffed
• surfeited

Verb

• assuage
• quench
• sate
• satisfy
• slake

Choose the Right Synonym for satiate

satiate, sate, surfeit, cloy, pall, glut, gorge mean to fill to repletion.

satiate and sate may sometimes imply only complete satisfaction but more often suggest repletion that has destroyed interest or desire.

years of globe-trotting had satiated their interest in travel

readers were sated with sensationalistic stories

surfeit implies a nauseating repletion.

surfeited themselves with junk food

cloy stresses the disgust or boredom resulting from such surfeiting.

sentimental pictures that cloy after a while

pall emphasizes the loss of ability to stimulate interest or appetite.

a life of leisure eventually begins to pall

glut implies excess in feeding or supplying.

a market glutted with diet books

gorge suggests glutting to the point of bursting or choking.

gorged themselves with chocolate

Examples of satiate in a Sentence

Adjective

a couple of satiate dinner guests had ensconced themselves on the living room sofa

Verb

a long drink of water at last satiated my thirst

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Patches, gums and lozenges can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour to satiate a craving. —Will Yakowicz, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

The aliens’ taste for spice, satiated by dousing their human food in Tabasco, inspired a campaign to save the show from cancellation. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024

The waterfront Marshall Store, just a mile from the lodge, has all kinds of homemade sandwiches, soups, and goodies to satiate you during your stay or bring home to gift. —Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 20 Sep. 2024

An all-day menu is available to keep you satiated no matter what your vacation’s itinerary holds. —Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin satiatus, past participle of satiare, from satis enough — more at sad

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

satiate

1 of 2 adjective

sa·​tiate ˈsā-sh(ē-)ət 

: filled to excess

satiate

2 of 2 verb

sa·​ti·​ate ˈsā-shē-ˌāt 

satiated; satiating

: to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully or to excess

satiation

ˌsā-shē-ˈā-shən 

-sē-

noun