assuage
Meaning: to ease, pacify
Usage: The mother held the baby to assuage its fears.
allay
Meaning: to soothe, ease
Usage: The chairman of the Federal Reserve gave a speech to try to allay investors’ fears about an economic downturn.
placate
Meaning: to ease the anger of, soothe
Usage: The man purchased a lollipop to placate his irritable son.
appease
Meaning: to calm, satisfy
Usage: When the child cries, the mother gives him candy to appease him.
alleviate
Meaning: to relieve, make more bearable
Usage: This drug will alleviate the symptoms of the terrible disease, but only for a while.