What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
assuage
Example
She tried to assuage his anxiety by reassuring him that everything would be fine. [assuage: verb]
Example
The medicine helped to assuage the pain in her knee. [assuaging: gerund or present participle]
relieve
Example
He was relieved when he found out that he passed the exam. [relieved: past tense]
Example
The massage therapist relieved the tension in her shoulders. [relieve: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relieve is more commonly used than assuage in everyday language. Relieve is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while assuage is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between assuage and relieve?
While assuage is generally considered more formal, relieve can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a more versatile word.
