Meaning

(transitive) To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.
2. (rare, obsolete) Placid, peaceful.

Example Sentences

The gleam of the light on the paper placated his professional anger, and he wrote rapidly, the final dash of his signature curling the paper up in a triangular tear.

To-day a deity who should require bleeding sacrifices to placate him would be too sanguinary to be taken seriously.

They turned their shoulders to her most savage slashes, and with wagging tails and mincing steps strove to placate her wrath.

For the rest of the term he tormented Philip cruelly, and, though Philip tried to keep out of his way, the school was so small that it was impossible; he tried being friendly and jolly with him; he abased himself, so far as to buy him a knife; but though Singer took the knife he was not placated.

Here he again approached Teeka only to be again greeted with bared fangs and menacing growls. He sought to placate her; he urged his friendly intentions, and craned his neck to have a look at Teeka’s balu; but the she-ape was not to be persuaded that he meant other than harm to her little one.

Her [Bari Weiss's] critics — including the “60 Minutes” correspondent who reported the segment, Sharyn Alfonsi — saw it as an attempt by CBS to placate the administration.

When are you more placate and serene?

Word Forms

• placates
• placating
• placated
• more placate
• most placate

Synonyms for placate

Antonyms for placate

Related Words

When Should You Use Placate?

Use placate when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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