as in conciliatory
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
sent his girlfriend flowers as a propitiatory gesture for a date gone sour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for propitiatory
Adjective
-
Turning to Hjulmand as his replacement seemed almost a conciliatory gesture.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025 -
Trump is famously mercurial, while Petro could become more conciliatory.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And while All’s Fair could have won us over to its cause had the cases been more benevolent or moral, the women’s work so far similarly lacks depth.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
-
America appears to be, at the moment, in a sort of benevolent hostage situation.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For an accent, consider introducing a deep blue shade to provide a soothing contrast.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The soothing, antioxidant-rich formula offers enough coverage that it can be used in lieu of a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In the past, things had been worked out regarding Billy Gunn appearing at the WWE Hall Of Fame, Bryan Danielson giving kind words in a John Cena tribute show, and Chris Jericho appearing on Steve Austin’s podcast on the WWE Network.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Spirited, political, and deeply kind individuals, the Christos were passionately devoted to their artistic vision.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether for the potluck, the cookout, or a Wednesday night dinner with your family, these Southern side dishes are comforting, easy, and crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
In those cases, soft lighting, quiet music, or a comforting scent can make the space feel safer.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
On campus, Christopher Benton, 48, was arrested and later booked into Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail for refusing to leave after being asked to do so by police, obstruction and coming on to campus with the intent of interfering with peaceful activities, Mogulof said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
But, in a year that has already seen multiple political assassinations, the deployment of the National Guard to American cities, and masked agents of the federal government hauling people off the streets and into unmarked vans, the prospects for a peaceful anniversary appear remote.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Propitiatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/propitiatory. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share