PLACATE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'placate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of placate are appease , conciliate , mollify , pacify , and propitiate . While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill. // a move to placate local opposition

Q: When can 'appease' be used instead of 'placate'?

The words appease and placate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions. // appease their territorial ambitions

Q: In what contexts can 'conciliate' take the place of 'placate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to placate , conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences. // conciliating the belligerent nations

Q: When is 'mollify' a more appropriate choice than 'placate'?

The synonyms mollify and placate are sometimes interchangeable, but mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger. // a speech that mollified the demonstrators

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pacify' instead of 'placate'?

Although the words pacify and placate have much in common, pacify suggests a soothing or calming. // pacified by a sincere apology

Q: When would 'propitiate' be a good substitute for 'placate'?

The meanings of propitiate and placate largely overlap; however, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being. // propitiated his parents by dressing up

placate

verb

ˈplā-ˌkāt

Definition of placate next

as in to appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb placate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of placate are appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When can appease be used instead of placate?

The words appease and placate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

In what contexts can conciliate take the place of placate?

While in some cases nearly identical to placate, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When is mollify a more appropriate choice than placate?

The synonyms mollify and placate are sometimes interchangeable, but mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When is it sensible to use pacify instead of placate?

Although the words pacify and placate have much in common, pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

When would propitiate be a good substitute for placate?

The meanings of propitiate and placate largely overlap; however, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of placate But that’s done little to placate protest groups that have called for a full-scale reversal of U.S. support for Israel. —

David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2024 To placate the easily distractible duo, Nixon offers them a job as Official White House Dog Walkers to his pet Checkers. —

Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2024 King’s Running Man, published in 1982 and written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses. —

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Oct. 2024 The food of the common person — the meals scarfed down when everyone is too tired to cook, money is tight or the kids just need to be placated — is, in actuality, the food of the elite. —

Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for placate