appeasement
uh-PEEZ-munt
əˈpiːzmənt
The policy of acceding to the demands of a hostile power in order to avoid conflict.
Carries a heavy negative historical connotation of weakness and dangerous surrender to aggressors.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'apaisement', derived from 'apaiser' meaning to bring to peace (from Latin 'pax'). Originally a neutral term meaning pacification, its meaning dramatically shifted after the 1938 Munich Agreement to signify misguided surrender to aggression.
Word relationships
- concession: Concession is yielding a specific point; appeasement is an overall policy of pacifying an aggressor.
- pacification: Pacification implies restoring peace; appeasement specifically yields to aggressive demands.
- deterrence: Deterrence prevents aggression through strength and threat of retaliation.
- resistance: Actively confronting and opposing aggressive demands.
Commonly confused with
- compromise: Compromise involves mutual concessions; appeasement involves one side yielding to threat.
Word family
- appease (verb): To satisfy or pacify an aggressor by yielding to demands.
- appeaser (noun): A person who advocates policy of appeasement.
Collocations
- policy of appeasement
- futility of appeasement
- accused of appeasement
- reject appeasement
Example sentences
- "Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement toward Nazi expansion failed to prevent World War II." 20th Century History
- "Critics warned that making unreciprocated concessions to the expansionist power amounted to dangerous appeasement." Geopolitical Strategy
Memory hook
APPEASEMENT = Giving a PIECE of peace to keep the enemy quiet. Appeasement = Yielding to aggression to delay war.
When not to use
Do not use for mutually beneficial compromises where both sides make equitable concessions.
Fun facts
- Before 1938, 'appeasement' was considered a respectable, noble diplomatic approach intended to preserve peace.
Related words
Explore more words
appease, placate, concession, mollify, capitulate, compromise
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