Synonym Chooser

How does the verb placate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of placate are appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When can appease be used instead of placate?

The words appease and placate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

In what contexts can conciliate take the place of placate?

While in some cases nearly identical to placate, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When is mollify a more appropriate choice than placate?

The synonyms mollify and placate are sometimes interchangeable, but mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When is it sensible to use pacify instead of placate?

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

pacified by a sincere apology

When would propitiate be a good substitute for placate?

The meanings of propitiate and placate largely overlap; however, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

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 placate Published under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Running Man is set in an America in 2025 under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025 The day before, Trump signed a series of executive orders to placate coal country, portending to extend the lives of coal plants and promote coal exports — a move that the Sierra Club said guts pollution and safety controls while raising energy bills on working class Americans. Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Who hasn’t been placated with corporate platitudes or company swag when advocating for concrete change? Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 Those changes — a desperate need for privacy, security, and to placate the masses — put With Love, Meghan between a rock and a hard place. Alanna Bennett, refinery29.com, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for placate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placate
appease
Verb
  • That probably means someone who can appease enough of the traditionalists, enough of the progressives, and a solid majority of the moderates.
    Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025
  • Google has previously explored selling its ad exchange to appease European antitrust regulators, Reuters reported in September.
    David Shepardson and Jody Godoy, USA Today, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Placate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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