SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
allay
verb
To reduce a fear, concern, or other troubling feeling.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Ease a troubling feeling
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topPut to rest may suggest complete resolution; allay can mean only reducing the concern.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See allay in use
The detailed itinerary helped allay their concerns about the journey.
Residents were worried that a planned renovation would remove the small noticeboard where neighborhood groups advertised their events. The organizer tried to allay those fears by showing a drawing that included a replacement board near the entrance.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license