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

Huge job cuts may not allay recurring concerns about Meta’s spending.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 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

The little rest she’d gotten, asleep in Lazlo’s dream, hadn’t even begun to allay her fatigue.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Vocabulary lists containing allay

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Grade 11, List 6

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Twelfth Night

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