palliate

1 to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies Synonyms deodorize, excuse, explain away, extenuate, gloss (over), gloze (over), whitewash Related Words sugarcoat, varnish; apologize, atone, confess; account (for), explain, justify, rationalize; minimize, play down, soft-pedal; alleviate, ease, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, soften, temper; absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

2 to make more bearable or less severe this medicine should palliate your cough at least a little Synonyms allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, mitigate, mollify, help, relieve, sootheRelated Words abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper; cure, heal, remedy; amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refineNear Antonyms harm, hurt, impair, injure; heighten, intensify, sharpenAntonyms aggravate, exacerbate