PLACATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does placate mean? 

• PLACATE (verb)
  The verb PLACATE has 1 sense:

1. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

  Familiarity information: PLACATE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PLACATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they placate    ... he / she / it placates   
Past simple: placated   
Past participle: placated   
-ing form: placating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

appease; assuage; conciliate; gentle; gruntle; lenify; mollify; pacify; placate

Context example:

She managed to mollify the angry customer

Hypernyms (to "placate" is one way to...):

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize (make calm or still)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to placate Sue

Derivation:

placation (the act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity)

placative; placatory (intended to pacify by acceding to demands or granting concessions)

 Context examples 

"It's all right, mother," Scott was saying as he kept tight hold of White Fang and placated him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Then he discovered his mistake and tried to placate her.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

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

(White Fang, by Jack London)