PALLIATE Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

palliate

verb

ˈpa-lē-ˌāt

Definition of palliate

as in to excuse

to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe this medicine should palliate your cough at least a little

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 palliate Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024 Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days. — Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024 Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own. — Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023 Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior. — New York Times, 20 June 2022 The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude. — The New Yorker, 2 May 2022 Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers. — Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for palliate

Verb

Plus, any money owed to the landlord must either be paid or excused with the agreement of the landlord.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
And if hydration breaks open the (excuse the pun) floodgates for more ad inventory, then the sport inherently becomes a more valuable entity than non-World Cup action has been to-date.

— John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of excuse

Verb

The shipments meant Adnoc was able to take greater advantage of surging oil prices earlier in the war, and helped alleviate the impact of the broader closure of the strait on global supplies.

— Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
This is a critical time in history to create sustainable prevention and optimization, not simply alleviate symptoms.

— Sherry McAllister, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

Duke then justified its presence in the ACC championship by beating Virginia 27-20 in overtime.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 15 July 2026
But that valuation is justified given CAVA’s strong qualitative fundamentals, such as recent menu innovations and high customer loyalty, leaving the stock attractive, Morgan Stanley said.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Definition of justify

Verb

The patient must be in an advanced or terminal stage, experiencing pain that cannot be relieved or is unbearable, and seeking lethal medication of their own free will.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
Just like human babies, kittens gnaw on things to relieve the pressure and discomfort of adult teeth pushing through their gums.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Definition of relieve

Verb

Lobello explains why soccer is such an efficient form of exercise and what the World Cup could mean for adults looking to get active.

— Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Shimizu voluntarily stayed in Vietnam after World War II to join the Việt Minh resistance, opposing French colonial reoccupation, the photographer explained.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

Advocates say the funds would help build more than 40,000 shovel-ready affordable homes that are unable to move forward because of a financing gap and help preserve thousands of other existing units.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Ryan would love nothing more than to help convince the front office to add and give this team a chance down the stretch.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of help

Verb

Obicetrapib maker NewAmsterdam Pharma plans to begin a study soon to test if the drug's cholesterol effects also can mitigate the Alzheimer's risk in people carrying one or two copies of that gene.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Obicetrapib maker NewAmsterdam Pharma plans to begin a study soon to test if the drug’s cholesterol effects also can mitigate the Alzheimer’s risk in people carrying one or two copies of that gene.

— Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of mitigate

Verb

The Hot Stone Massage is the ultimate R&R, using warm volcanic stones to calm and soothe aching muscles in a full-body, 60- or 90-minute massage.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
The Lillian Area Rug is both grounding and soothing thanks to its cool blue hue; the intricate Persian pattern adds lots of charm, making the rug look more unique and storied.

— Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

Definition of soothe

Browse Nearby Words

pallets

palliate

palliated

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Palliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palliate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of palliate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on palliate

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quid pro quo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes