verb

placated

/pləˈkeɪtɪd/ · say it: pluh·KAY·tid

made calm after anger

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (verb) pacified or calmed someone who was angry, annoyed, or dissatisfied; soothed someone's anger or complaints

Examples

1. She placated her angry boss by apologizing sincerely and promising to meet the deadline.

How to use placated

Placate means to calm or satisfy someone who is upset or dissatisfied, often by giving them what they want or offering reassurance. It typically suggests a deliberate effort to reduce hostility or resentment. Unlike appease, which can imply reluctant concessions to unreasonable demands, placate is more neutral and focuses on restoring calm.

Common phrases

placated the angry customer
placated their fears
placated critics
was easily placated
attempt to placate

Synonyms

appeased · pacified · calmed · soothed · mollified

Opposites

provoked · angered · aggravated

Word family

placate (verb, base form) · placating (present participle) · placatory (adjective) · placation (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse placate with placid (meaning calm or peaceful), which are completely different words with different pronunciations and meanings.

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