as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
a placating comment that seemed to calm everyone down a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of
attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of placating
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
In your opinion, should the shop have handled this differently—perhaps compensating or at least placating me?
—
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
If Paul’s creed is essentially Roman, then Christianity looks, from the outset, like a religion trained to live with empire, its compass always set toward placating power.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
But there’s no guarantee her successor will have any better success at placating the president.
—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Without these questions, our decisions become about placating requests.
—
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf,
Forbes.com,
12 Mar. 2026
The story’s correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused CBS News management of placating the White House, turning the decision into a public relations fiasco for the network.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
The majority of the more than 200 speakers at the hearings, however, criticized the draft plan, often with passionate testimony, arguing that the state was simply placating water users and failing to demand the deeper water cutbacks necessary for restoring the delta and the upstream rivers.
—
Kurtis Alexander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai made the biggest Smash yet, as the title suggests, taking years of post-release development and placating a fanbase that had hulking expectations, ending up with the third best selling game on Nintendo Switch.
—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Putin has struggled to manage fighting Kyiv on the one hand and placating domestic constituencies on the other.
—
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
In your opinion, should the shop have handled this differently—perhaps compensating or at least placating me?
—
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
If Paul’s creed is essentially Roman, then Christianity looks, from the outset, like a religion trained to live with empire, its compass always set toward placating power.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
But there’s no guarantee her successor will have any better success at placating the president.
—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Without these questions, our decisions become about placating requests.
—
Amy Cappellanti-Wolf,
Forbes.com,
12 Mar. 2026
The story’s correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused CBS News management of placating the White House, turning the decision into a public relations fiasco for the network.
—
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
The majority of the more than 200 speakers at the hearings, however, criticized the draft plan, often with passionate testimony, arguing that the state was simply placating water users and failing to demand the deeper water cutbacks necessary for restoring the delta and the upstream rivers.
—
Kurtis Alexander,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai made the biggest Smash yet, as the title suggests, taking years of post-release development and placating a fanbase that had hulking expectations, ending up with the third best selling game on Nintendo Switch.
—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placating
Adjective
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Trump reverses on housing bill Republican senators were eager for a conciliatory meeting with the president after escalating tensions in recent weeks.
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Republican senators were eager for a conciliatory meeting with the president after escalating tensions in recent weeks.
Verb
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With the Ambassador Bridge and the tunnel being the current passageway, the economist said the Gordie Howe Bridge will alleviate the backups businesses have been seeing and are trying to avoid, while appeasing the many employees who travel back and forth for work.
-
Over the past months, Iranian officials have tried to carefully balance negotiations with Trump while appeasing factions across the country’s diverse political landscape, including the Paydari group.
Adjective
-
Seapuri's Scalpy Bubble Tonic is a lightweight foam that delivers a cooling burst of relief thanks to a soothing blend of cica, panthenol, and menthol, while salicylic acid helps dissolve excess oil, flakes, and residue that can leave the scalp feeling congested.
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The sight of the lumbering actor wearing track clothes and sitting cross-legged while listening to a soothing relaxation tape on headphones is priceless.
Adjective
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Easier than tomato pie, this drop biscuit-style savory cobbler makes a comforting summer supper.
-
So much for the comforting assumption that someone official is keeping a careful tally of the loans inside your fund.
Adjective
-
Hostile and benevolent sexism are early indicators of deeper problems.
-
Amazed to discover her treasure-trove apartment, Julián also discovers his own Caribbean heritage and the lively Brooklyn community he is surrounded by, in a loveable, benevolent family-friendly feature.
Adjective
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Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.
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Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.
Adjective
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By Sunday afternoon, the park was peaceful, with some residents setting up a Father's Day lunch while men nearby were playing cards.
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The view is extraordinary, but the experience is far from peaceful in peak season.
Adjective
-
It’s often been reported that Kate Middleton is a calming influence over the heir to the throne, Prince William.
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While the lobby areas and restaurants lean into the playful side of a contemporary art hotel, the rooms are more calming with neutral tones and the continuation of the lobby’s black marble in the credenzas and nightstands.
Cite this Entry
“Placating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placating. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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