Synonyms of conciliate

conciliate

verb

kən-ˈsi-lē-ˌāt 

1

as in to reconcile

to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences

it will be hard to conciliate the views of labor and management regarding health benefits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reconcile
• coordinate
• integrate
• harmonize
• combine
• conform
• adapt
• accommodate
• align
• suit
• attune
• merge
• match
• connect
• key
• correlate
• balance
• unite
• unify
• proportion
• blend
• tune
• synthesize
• synchronize
• equalize
• standardize
• orchestrate
• fit
• order
• join
• pair
• arrange
• fuse
• regularize
• even
• aline
• dovetail
• array
• square

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• upset
• disturb
• disrupt
• confuse
• disorganize
• disarray
• alienate
• skew
• estrange
• disharmonize
• disorder

2

as in to appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of

a principal trying to conciliate the parents who did not receive their tickets to the graduation ceremonies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appease
• propitiate
• placate
• soothe
• comfort
• mollify
• calm
• pacify
• please
• disarm
• assuage
• satisfy
• console
• gentle
• ingratiate
• delight
• gratify
• tranquilize
• tranquillize
• quiet
• flatter
• content
• coax
• cajole
• gladden
• endear (to)
• satiate
• indulge
• wheedle
• hush
• quench
• sate
• cater (to)
• humor
• pamper
• spoil
• soft-soap
• baby
• sweeten
• overpraise
• coddle
• adulate
• sweet-talk
• blandish
• mollycoddle
• blarney
• dulcify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anger
• inflame
• antagonize
• infuriate
• aggravate
• annoy
• outrage
• irritate
• enrage
• get
• provoke
• bother
• rile
• exasperate
• vex
• cross
• ire
• put out
• rouse
• rankle
• burn (up)
• irk
• pique
• ruffle
• enflame
• grate
• chafe
• persecute
• harass
• bug
• gall
• disturb
• upset
• agitate
• pester
• madden
• incense
• unsettle
• discomfort
• offend
• distress
• roil
• perturb
• worry
• harry
• insult
• slight
• nettle
• affront
• fret
• peeve
• unhinge

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb conciliate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conciliate are appease, mollify, pacify, placate, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When would appease be a good substitute for conciliate?

The words appease and conciliate can be used in similar contexts, but appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

When is it sensible to use mollify instead of conciliate?

In some situations, the words mollify and conciliate are roughly equivalent. However, mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

In what contexts can pacify take the place of conciliate?

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

pacified by a sincere apology

When might placate be a better fit than conciliate?

The meanings of placate and conciliate largely overlap; however, placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When can propitiate be used instead of conciliate?

The words propitiate and conciliate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of conciliate

America’s leadership in the Middle East has shaped the region in ways that have massively benefited Israel: deterring and coercing Iran, neutralizing the Islamic State and other terrorists, and conciliating moderate Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. —Daniel Byman, The Atlantic, 24 May 2025

Yes, but: With so many crypto leaders avowedly on Team Trump and the wind at her back, conciliating crypto sounds chancy. —Brady Dale, Axios, 13 Aug. 2024

Brazil and others have been trying to secure talks between the two sides, political rivals that have not conciliated in decades. —Reuters, NBC News, 13 Aug. 2024

The hope for this person is that officials from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) can mediate and conciliate this epic fight. —Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 July 2023

Much as former President Barack Obama once courted congressional Republicans, Tromp sought to conciliate the conservative legislators. —Daniel Golden, ProPublica, 4 July 2022

Biden’s team has absorbed, even invited, criticism from authoritarians whom Trump used to conciliate. —Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 25 Mar. 2021

Refusing either to conciliate or coerce Southern states rushing headlong into secession, Lincoln maintained... —Harold Holzer, WSJ, 15 May 2020

This hardly seems sustainable, for Peru, very weak militarily, had every interest in preventing a war between Chile and Bolivia, even apart from the stipulations of Article VIII of the treaty which bound her to seek to conciliate the belligerents. —Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011

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