propitiate
verb
pro·pi·ti·ate
prō-ˈpi-shē-ˌāt 
propitiated; propitiating
: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease
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Propitiate tends to suggest averting the anger or malevolence of a superior being. You might "appease" your hunger, but to speak more colorfully, you could "propitiate the gods of hunger." The word is related to propitious, an adjective meaning "likely to have or produce good results" or "being a good omen."
Examples of propitiate in a Sentence
He made an offering to propitiate the angry gods.
the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble
Recent Examples on the Web
The credulous faith that these superpowers will voluntarily settle for some form of peaceful coexistence, if only they are sufficiently propitiated with concessions, is naive and dangerous.
—
Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Since 1979, the United States has sought to contain or propitiate the regime in Tehran.
—Danielle Pletka, National Review, 6 Nov. 2023
Both the sirens and Proteus know much, if not all, that has happened upon the face of the earth, but whereas the sirens sing their song unbidden while taking the hearer’s life in return, Proteus under compulsion tells the hearer the proper animal sacrifice to offer to propitiate the gods.
—Marina Warner, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2021
These mace heads, more commonly made from antler, are often dredged from rivers; they were probably placed there to propitiate the water spirits.
—Dominic Green, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2022
Sarah Burton’s poetic debut collection for Alexander McQueen for spring 2011 took inspiration from the corn-husk dollies that in ancient Britain were traditionally used to propitiate the agricultural field gods.
—Alex Harrington, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2020
Norman’s description of a crisis over which deity to propitiate, a crisis that began with the thirteenth and continues to the present day, is impressive in its clarity.
—Donald S. Lopez, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020
These ghosts have been stalking the premises since the Great Famine, when a local man committed a sickening murder in an attempt to propitiate the ancient gods.
—Sam Sacks, WSJ, 18 May 2018
Soon after Kuchibhotla’s murder, a commentator in India a grave irony: in the run-up to the 2016 election, a number of right-leaning American Hindus , not only with donations but also with elaborate prayer ceremonies to propitiate the gods.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2017
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Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025
Since 1979, the United States has sought to contain or propitiate the regime in Tehran.
—Danielle Pletka, National Review, 6 Nov. 2023
Both the sirens and Proteus know much, if not all, that has happened upon the face of the earth, but whereas the sirens sing their song unbidden while taking the hearer’s life in return, Proteus under compulsion tells the hearer the proper animal sacrifice to offer to propitiate the gods.
—Marina Warner, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2021
These mace heads, more commonly made from antler, are often dredged from rivers; they were probably placed there to propitiate the water spirits.
—Dominic Green, WSJ, 27 Apr. 2022
Sarah Burton’s poetic debut collection for Alexander McQueen for spring 2011 took inspiration from the corn-husk dollies that in ancient Britain were traditionally used to propitiate the agricultural field gods.
—Alex Harrington, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2020
Norman’s description of a crisis over which deity to propitiate, a crisis that began with the thirteenth and continues to the present day, is impressive in its clarity.
—Donald S. Lopez, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020
These ghosts have been stalking the premises since the Great Famine, when a local man committed a sickening murder in an attempt to propitiate the ancient gods.
—Sam Sacks, WSJ, 18 May 2018
Soon after Kuchibhotla’s murder, a commentator in India a grave irony: in the run-up to the 2016 election, a number of right-leaning American Hindus , not only with donations but also with elaborate prayer ceremonies to propitiate the gods.
—Adam Davidson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Propitiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propitiate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
propitiate
verb
pro·pi·ti·ate
prō-ˈpish-ē-ˌāt
propitiated; propitiating
: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of
propitiation
noun
-ˌpish-ē-ˈā-shən
propitiatory
adjective
-ˈpish-(ē-)ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
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