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Satisfy vs Relieve - What's the difference?

satisfy | relieve |

As verbs the difference between satisfy and relieve

is that satisfy is to do enough for; to meet the needs of; to fulfill the wishes or requirements of while relieve is to ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.

satisfy

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To do enough for; to meet the needs of; to fulfill the wishes or requirements of.
  • I'm not satisfied with the quality of the food here.
  • * Milton
  • Death shall with us two / Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw.
  • To cause (a sentence) to be true when the sentence is interpreted in one's universe.
  • The complex numbers satisfy \exists x:x^2+1=0.
  • (dated, literary, transitive) To convince by ascertaining; to free from doubt.
  • * Atterbury
  • The standing evidences of the truth of the gospel are in themselves most firm, solid, and satisfying .
  • * 1851 ,
  • I was resolved to satisfy myself whether this ragged Elijah was really dogging us or not, and with that intent crossed the way with Queequeg, and on that side of it retraced our steps.
  • To pay to the extent of what is claimed or due.
  • to satisfy a creditor
  • To answer or discharge (a claim, debt, legal demand, etc.); to give compensation for.
  • to satisfy a claim or an execution

    Antonyms

    * (l) * (l)

    relieve

    English

    Verb

    (reliev)
  • To ease (a person, person's thoughts etc.) from mental distress; to stop (someone) feeling anxious or worried, to alleviate the distress of.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence, and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}
  • To ease (someone, a part of the body etc.) or give relief from physical pain or discomfort.
  • To alleviate (pain, distress, mental discomfort etc.).
  • To provide comfort or assistance to (someone in need, especially in poverty).
  • (obsolete) To lift up; to raise again.
  • (legal) To free (someone) from debt or legal obligations; to give legal relief to.
  • This shall not relieve either Party of any obligations.
  • To bring military help to (a besieged town); to lift the seige on.
  • To release (someone) from or of a difficulty, unwanted task, responsibility etc.
  • (military, job) To free (someone) from their post, task etc. by taking their place.
  • * 1819 , (Lord Byron), , III.76:
  • The henna should be deeply dyed to make / The skin relieved appear more fairly fair [...].
  • * 1927 , (Countee Cullen), From the Dark Tower :
  • The night whose sable breast relieves the stark / White stars is no less lovely being dark
  • (reflexive) To go to the toilet; to defecate or urinate.
  • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * relieve oneself