appeasement

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'appeasement' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to efforts to gain or maintain peace by making concessions or by granting concessions or by pacifying or placating an adversary. Example sentence: The government's decision to make various concessions was an act of appeasement to keep the opposition from escalating the conflict.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For all his rhetoric about Munich 1938 and the need to avoid appeasement, Cameron's emphasis in the Ukraine is economic, not military, saying he has been "at the absolute front end of those arguing for broader sanctions".

The Guardian

The appeasement of Assad, like other appeasements in history, will cause more nightmares.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bryant, who is known for his battle against phone hacking, is writing his first novel about a group of gay and bisexual politicians who opposed appeasement and were branded the "glamour boys".

The Guardian

Perhaps it is how Glorious 39 unfolds around him that makes you never quite trust Nighy as Alexander Keyes, a devoted father and aristocratic Conservative MP in Stephen Poliakoff's sumptuous new thriller about appeasement, set on the eve of the second world war.

The Guardian - Film

Leading a political party in opposing military action by UK troops is not easy and quickly led to allegations of appeasement.

The Guardian

And despite declaring a "war on cold homes", Labour's actual promised policies look much more like appeasement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hawks in the US, meanwhile, were quick to dismiss what they called a "list of concessions" to Iran; Republican senator Mark Kirk compared the agreement to Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Adolf Hitler.

The Guardian

Talking to Pakistan, the nationalists say, would amount to appeasement.

The Economist

A normal country Last piece in the Balkan tragedy Going for gold The war that spread Reprints Related items Angola's civil war: Never say neverMay 17th 2001 Sierra Leone's civil war: Peace-building or appeasement?May 17th 2001The UN is hampered because, apart from Britain, no permanent member of the Security Council wants to get involved.

The Economist

Moustapha Niasse, whom Mr Wade sacked as prime minister in March, is now the self-styled "leader of the opposition"; his party, the Alliance of Progressive Forces (AFP), won 11 seats.In this section A new, perhaps dangerous, freedom Peace-building or appeasement?

The Economist

Eden, who had honourably resigned as foreign secretary in 1938 in disapproval of the appeasement of Hitler and, especially, Mussolini, was nonetheless haunted by Neville Chamberlain's readiness to yield to tyrants.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing historical events, provide context to differentiate between legitimate diplomatic efforts and problematic "appeasement" that emboldens aggressors.

Common error

Be cautious when using "appeasement" in contemporary debates. The term carries a strong negative connotation due to its association with pre-World War II policies. Ensure the situation genuinely involves one-sided concessions that risk encouraging further aggression, rather than legitimate negotiation or diplomacy.

Linguistic Context

The noun "appeasement" functions primarily as a subject or object in a sentence, denoting the act or policy of appeasing. Ludwig AI validates this, demonstrating its role in describing actions taken to avoid conflict.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "appeasement" is a noun frequently used in news and media, as validated by Ludwig AI, to describe making concessions to an aggressor to avoid conflict. While grammatically correct, its usage often carries a negative connotation, particularly in political and historical contexts. It is thus important to consider the context carefully when using the term. While similar to "conciliation" or "compromise", "appeasement" specifically implies a one-sided yielding that risks emboldening further aggression. It's important to note that "appeasement" should be applied thoughtfully, recognizing the historical baggage from pre-World War II policies. The goal is to avoid encouraging aggressors. Ensure the situation genuinely involves one-sided concessions that risk encouraging further aggression, rather than legitimate negotiation or diplomacy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

granting concessions

More explicitly describes the act of giving something up to satisfy demands, closely mirroring the meaning of "appeasement".

placation

Focuses on quieting or pacifying someone, often by giving them what they want, and carries a slightly negative connotation.

conciliation

Refers more broadly to overcoming distrust or hostility, often through dialogue and understanding, not necessarily involving concessions.

concession

Highlights the act of yielding or granting something, without explicitly stating the motive of avoiding conflict.

pacification

Implies bringing peace to a troubled area, often through military or political means, not necessarily by conceding to demands.

compromise

Emphasizes a mutual agreement where both parties give up something, whereas "appeasement" often implies one-sided concessions.

yielding

Focuses on giving way to pressure or demands, without the specific goal of maintaining peace.

accommodation

Suggests adapting to someone's needs or demands, without necessarily implying weakness or a desire to avoid conflict.

deference

Implies respect and submission to someone's wishes, not necessarily driven by fear of conflict.

leniency

Suggests showing mercy or mildness in judgment, not necessarily in response to demands.

FAQs

How is "appeasement" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "appeasement" functions as a noun, referring to the act or policy of making concessions to an aggressor to avoid conflict. Example: The Munich Agreement is often cited as an example of failed appeasement.

What are some synonyms for "appeasement" that I could use instead?

Depending on the specific context, you might consider using synonyms such as "conciliation", "placation", "pacification", or "concession".

What is the historical significance of the term "appeasement"?

The term is most notably associated with the policy of appeasement adopted by Britain and France toward Nazi Germany in the 1930s, culminating in the Munich Agreement of 1938. This policy is now widely regarded as a failure, as it emboldened Hitler and ultimately failed to prevent World War II.

How does "appeasement" differ from diplomacy or negotiation?

"Appeasement" often implies making concessions to an aggressor out of fear or weakness, without receiving equivalent reciprocal concessions. Diplomacy and negotiation, on the other hand, involve a more balanced exchange of concessions between parties with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. It is not "granting concessions" to an enemy.