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 But Johnson is hopeful that provisions to address both issues will placate blue-state Republicans and conservatives, two groups who have emerged as the biggest roadblocks in passing the massive bill. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 16 May 2025 No milk, no eggs, no snacks to placate hungry kids. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 1 June 2025 For more than a generation, Iowa’s administration has resisted calls to move the students from behind the south basket in order to placate long-time ticketholders. Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 And yet the movie had been working out such a vital and relevant theme: the stakes of trying to placate a regime of ruthless power. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for placate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placate
appease
Verb
  • Our theory at the time was that Boeing planes would be leveraged as countries sought to reduce trade deficits with the U.S. to appease Trump.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 27 June 2025
  • As long as the far-left is determining their party’s agenda, Democrats will continue to bleed support as more and more Americans reject not only its radicalism but its inability to distinguish between right and wrong and its inclination to appease evil.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Placate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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