assuage
Make pain lighter
Assuage means to ease or lessen something unpleasant—hunger, thirst, pain, guilt, or grief.
The word suggests soothing rather than eliminating: She tried to assuage his fears.
You might assuage your conscience by apologizing, or assuage curiosity by investigating.
The tone is slightly formal; in casual speech, people more often say ease or calm.
Make less severe
lighten · soften · temper · moderate · abate · palliate · attenuate · relieve
Lessen someone's anger
- pacifyTo calm agitation
- mollifyReduce anger or distress
- conciliateCalm hostile feelings
- propitiateRegain favor through offerings
calm · quiet · defuse · disarm · reconcile · mediate · negotiate · smooth
mitigate
Make less severe
lessen · lighten · soften · temper · moderate · abate · palliate · attenuate · relieve · decrease
placate
Lessen someone's anger
- pacifyTo calm agitation
- mollifyReduce anger or distress
- conciliateCalm hostile feelings
propitiate · calm · quiet · defuse · disarm · reconcile · mediate · negotiate · smooth · settle
console
Comfort in distress
nurture · support · sympathize · empathize · tend · care for · succor · hold · embrace · hearten
quench
Satisfy or extinguish
gratify · slake · indulge · content · appease · feed · nourish · meet · answer · address