WordValeplacate
to make less angry
In more detail
1. (verb) to make someone less angry or upset by doing something that pleases them
2. (verb) to calm or soothe someone's anger or concerns
Examples
- 1. The manager offered a bonus to placate the angry employees.
- 2. The government tried to placate public concerns about the new policy.
How to use placate
Placate means to calm or soothe someone's anger or dissatisfaction, often by making concessions or doing something that satisfies them. It typically implies a deliberate effort to prevent conflict or restore goodwill. Unlike appease (which can suggest weakness or undesirable compromise), placate is more neutral and can describe legitimate attempts to address legitimate grievances.
Common phrases
- placate someone's anger
- placate the critics
- placate public concerns
- attempt to placate
- placate the opposition
Synonyms
appease · mollify · pacify · soothe · conciliate
Opposites
antagonize · provoke · inflame
Word family
placation (noun) · placatory (adjective) · placable (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse placate with its opposite, thinking it means to provoke or make angry, or they overuse it in casual contexts where soothe or calm would be more natural.
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