Definition
To appease or calm someone down by making concessions or soothing gestures.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Verb
Synonyms
Soothe, appease, mollify, pacify, calm, assuage, ease, alleviate
Antonyms
Anger, provoke, irritate, incite, agitate, inflame
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | placation, placations |
| Verb | placating, placate, placates, placated |
| Adjective | placatory, placative |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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The manager tried to placate the upset customer by offering her a discount on her next purchase.
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The politician promised to placate the protesters by implementing new policies to address their concerns.
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The mother tried to placate her crying child by giving her a toy to play with.
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The teacher had to placate the unruly students by letting them have a short break.
Usage
The word “placate” is a verb that means to calm someone down or to make them less angry or upset by making concessions or soothing gestures. It is often used in situations where someone is upset, angry, or dissatisfied with a situation, and another person or group is trying to make things right.
The prefix “pla-” in “placate” comes from the Latin word “placare,” meaning “to please” or “to appease.” The suffix “-ate” is often used in English to form verbs from nouns or adjectives. For example, “activate” from “active,” or “emigrate” from “emigrant.”
The word “placate” is often used in the context of conflict resolution, where one party is trying to calm or appease another party. It is also commonly used in personal relationships, where one person is trying to calm down or reassure another person who is upset or angry.
Other related words to “placate” include “appease,” “mollify,” “pacify,” and “soothe,” which all have similar meanings of calming someone down or making them less angry or upset. “Placate” is often used in situations where concessions or soothing gestures are necessary to calm down the other party, whereas “pacify” often implies the use of force or authority to calm someone down.
Antonyms of “placate” include “anger,” “provoke,” “irritate,” “incite,” and “inflame,” all of which have the opposite effect of calming someone down or making them less angry or upset.