Synonyms of placate

placate

verb

ˈplā-ˌkāt 

as in to appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of

attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of placate

But so far there has been little vigorous action to placate investors. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Denker has focused on cooperation, conducting a stream of meetings and calls to placate and compromise. — Adam Kilgore, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

In the film, Panettiere plays Sheryl Yoast, the young daughter of coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton), whose job Boone is given by the school district to placate Black community members as racial tensions rise. — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

From the theorist’s vantage, the narrator’s couches will always be placating. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

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