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palliate

verb

ˈpa-lē-ˌāt How to pronounce palliate (audio)
Definition of palliatenext
1
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
2
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
  1. excuse
  2. alleviate
  3. justify
  4. relieve
  5. explain
  6. help
  7. mitigate
  8. soothe
Verb
  • Senior quarterback Dante Moore was nowhere to be found during media availability following the Ducks' loss on the road, which was noticed by every reporter in the room, but according to head coach Dan Lanning, his absence was excused.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Choose a seat far from your brother-in-law or excuse yourself to help with the dishes.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of excuse
Verb
  • Safety and crowding concerns will continue to plague the uptown jail when Jail North reopens to alleviate conditions, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden warned late Friday.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Major studies show that meditation can alleviate anxiety and depression—at least about as well as the antidepressant Lexapro can, but without the cost and with fewer side effects.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • The Italian Interior Ministry used that same threat to justify extending the border checks Tuesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • First-act setups extend through the majority of the 108-minute runtime, constituting a plotless meander without the aesthetic allure to justify such a languid journey.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of justify
Verb
  • Because the underlying mechanisms driving this persistent pain are unknown, treatment options are centered on relieving symptoms but largely fall short.
    — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Humor becomes a way of both relieving and postponing tension.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of relieve
Verb
  • The woman who had compiled the Handy Hints book helpfully explained these technical details to Flynn, whispering in his ear like someone translating a foreign language.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of explaining why something happened after the fact, the organization helps the customer stay ahead of it.
    — Suresh Rajapakse, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of explain
Verb
  • Current municipal spending trends can help an investor potentially predict what the next five years or so of the market could look like.
    — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • In his post, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has proposed that partners help secure an agreement with Russia for a ceasefire.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of help
Verb
  • This practice allows firms to mitigate the effects of sanctions on supply chains and helps shore balance sheets in a high-inflation environment in which cash loses its value but goods do not.
    — Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But not all regions saw a decrease, as late August rains helped mitigate drought conditions.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • Rice lipids and jojoba oil seal in moisture and replenish the skin barrier, while 2% ectoin soothes redness and protects against water loss.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
  • But if Land Rover wasn’t really your style, perhaps a Jeep incarnate would soothe you?
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of soothe

Browse Nearby Words

pallets
palliate
palliated
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Cite this Entry

“Palliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palliate. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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