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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
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
The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
This replaces placating with directly communicating out of respect for your longstanding relationship.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to tread a thin line between placating Polish sensitivities and avoiding the wrath of nationalist Ukrainians.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Fans can credit Schneider's handling of the situation for placating any potential hard feelings as the team removes a standout starter from the rotation to make room for Bieber.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Since 2013, the Teatro Real has been led by the Catalan impresario Joan Matabosch, who has a flair for balancing progressive ideas against conservative tastes while placating political overseers.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
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
The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
This replaces placating with directly communicating out of respect for your longstanding relationship.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to tread a thin line between placating Polish sensitivities and avoiding the wrath of nationalist Ukrainians.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Fans can credit Schneider's handling of the situation for placating any potential hard feelings as the team removes a standout starter from the rotation to make room for Bieber.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placating
Verb
-
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom seems to have recognized that appeasing California’s Democrats puts him out of step with the country.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Morrison has to redress the concealing and conciliatory language of the slave narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
While Rubio's tone might have been more conciliatory than Vance's, the underlying issues remained the same, as some conference attendees acknowledged.—
Azhar Sukri,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The space is soothing—low lit, a big fireplace, deep sofas in the entry area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Honey coats the throat and may help reduce coughing, making the combo especially soothing.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cheesy drop biscuits make your typical chicken pot pie even more comforting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Buckled heels hold a comforting, nostalgic flair, especially in buttery soft suede.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At a slow, quiet and benevolent pace that blurred the lines between reality and fiction.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The North’s decisions about prisoner exchanges were based on military calculations, not benevolent concern for Black captives.—
Drew Gilpin Faust,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
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.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The two governments started working toward a peaceful resolution in the early 1980s, bringing the Anglo-Irish Agreement into effect in 1985.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 2026
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There is no legal reason to do that while everything is peaceful, while everything is safeguarded by the agency.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After a day spent under the sun, guests return to a tranquil retreat that’s quietly stylish and deeply calming.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The lack of spoken words gives it a calming, quietly intense quality.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Placating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placating. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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