palliate

verb pal·li·ate \ ˈpa-lē-ˌāt \

Definition of palliate

palliated; palliating

transitive verb

1 :to reduce the violence of (a disease); also :to ease (symptoms) without curing the underlying disease

drugs to palliate the pain

2 :to cover by excuses and apologies

tried to palliate his blunder

3 :to moderate the intensity of

trying to palliate the boredom

did nothing to palliate the bitter disputes

—

palliation

play \ˌpa-lē-ˈā-shən\ noun

—

palliator

play \ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tər\ noun

See palliate defined for English-language learners

See palliate defined for kids

palliate was our Word of the Day on 10/14/2017. Hear the podcast!

Examples of palliate in a Sentence

treatments that can palliate the painful symptoms of the disease
don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies

Did You Know?

Long ago, the ancient Romans had a name for the cloak-like garb that was worn by the Greeks (distinguishing it from their own "toga"); the name was "pallium." In the 15th century, English speakers modified the Late Latin word palliatus, which derives from "pallium," to form "palliate." Our term, used initially as both an adjective and a verb, never had the literal Latin sense referring to the cloak you wear, but it took on the figurative "cloak" of protection. Specifically, the verb "palliate" meant (as it still can mean) "to lessen the intensity of a disease." Nowadays, "palliate" can be used as a synonym of "gloss" or "whitewash" when someone is attempting to disguise something bad.