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
• tranquillize
• cajole
• endear (to)
• gladden
• indulge
• sate
• flatter
• hush
• wheedle
• cater (to)
• baby
• quench
• pamper
• coddle
• spoil
• humor
• 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
• enflame
• ruffle
• chafe
• grate
• harass
• gall
• pester
• persecute
• disturb
• upset
• 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

Benefits should enhance human capital, not just placate. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Michael Barbaro speaks to Thomas Sipp, a lawyer who chose to quit after his firm, Skadden, negotiated a deal to placate the president. —Michael Barbaro, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

So how would the AI CEO placate Elliott Investment Management, which wanted to eliminate the open seating and free bag policies and was accused by Southwest leaders of failing to constructively engage with the reworking of corporate policies. —Mark Dent, HubSpot, 4 Apr. 2025

That stark reality is also a major reason why some of the firms chose to try to placate the president. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 29 Mar. 2025

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