Do you know the definition of placate? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word placate, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word placate is a verb that means to pacify, appease, or soothing hurt feelings or feelings of bitterness. Different suffixes can be added to placate to form different verb tenses and word forms like the past participle, present participle, and more – ed, ing, tion all form placated, placating, and placation. Placate is two syllables – pla-cate, and the pronunciation of placate is pləˈkeɪt.
Many different languages contain translations for the word placate. You may notice that some of the translations in the below list look and sound a lot like the word placate. These are called cognates, which are words and phrases that have a similar look, sound, and meaning across languages. These are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of the word placate is provided by Word Sense.
According to Etymonline, the word placate has been used since c17 Middle English and comes from the Latin placatus/Latin plācātus, past participle of placare and causative of placere/placēre. This word is from Proto-Indo-European roots.
How can the word placate be used in a sentence?
The word placate can be used in different sentences in American English and British English. Using a new word in a sentence is a great way to memorize its meaning. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today so that you can remember its definition and continue to use it in your everyday speech. Below are many examples of placate.
Joshua Stamper tried to placate the quarterback who was feeling resentment as the demonstrators lined up outside his house. His insistent demands made it clear he thought he was a superior being.
The politicians placated the belligerent nations who had a rising anger and territorial ambitions. There was much local opposition from voters, but they tried their best to perform this settling of differences without estrangement, malevolence or disturbance.
The agent Angel Azrael placated the artist Chloe who had her theme music stolen for the show, and contacted ASCAP to make it right. Her copyright was in effect, and fans would be livid to hear about the offender.
The employees went to the office of a mediator after a diaphanous kind of morning with protestors. There, they were placated into making hard decisions that would not go against state law or give them greater anxiety. They wanted no wrath, savage slashes, or chip on the shoulder of either side.
The physician from the state sector placated his colleague, who had the postures of phoney charms, when his opponents won out in the election. In the meantime, he greeted visitors to show everyone his positive trait.
What are synonyms and antonyms of placate?
There are many different words that a person can use in place of the word placate. These are called synonyms. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your English language vocabulary and avoid repeating yourself in spoken or written English. This list of synonyms of placate is provided by Power Thesaurus.
appease
rejoice
pacify
mitigate
relax
be equable
cool off
cheer
allay
smooth
hush
propitiated
temper
gratify
mollifying
dulcify
humour
tranquilize
sate
sedating
conciliate
give somebody a lift
decompress
reconciling
relieve
propitiate
humor
calming
make up
compose
settle
gladden
solace
mollified
appeased
comfort
reassure
tranquillize
mollify
disarm
ease
quieten
accommodate
quiet
be calm
still
brighten up
console
stay loose
propitiating
conciliated
lighten
cool
quell
calm down
lull
assuage
satisfy
becalm
content
take sting out
cool down
indulge
entertain
alleviate
dulcorate
amuse
calm
moderate
chill
reconcile
defuse
sedate
gruntle
lenify
spoil
make peace with
charm
gentle
captivate
subdue
allaying
placating
be unfazed
pamper
delight
palliate
loosen up
make matters up
soften
settle down
appeasing
take it easy
assuaging
please
pacified
soothe
hang loose
restore harmony to
sweeten
There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of the word placate. These opposite words are known as antonyms. Learning antonyms is another great way to expand your English language vocabulary in a quick and easy way. This list of antonyms of the word placate is also provided by Power Thesaurus.
weigh heavily on
make despondent
agitate
cause suffering to
harrow
rile
torment
weigh down
insult
upset
pester
make someone see red
provoke
distress
bother
give someone the blues
trouble
undo
fret
ail
flabbergast
incense
rankle
get someone’s back up
unnerve
make someone fed up
enrage
discompose
discourage
cause stress
vex
discomfort
knock for six
peeve
bug
torture
disturb
burden
knock the stuffing out of
perturb
unsettle
worry
desolate
shake
inflame
dash someone’s hopes
cast down
knock sideways
dash
demoralize
daunt
offend
become angry suddenly
dishearten
lose one’s temper
grieve
dispirit
madden
embitter
get down
concern
oppress
i dare you
chafe
dampen someone’s spirits
deject
hang over
nettle
crush
afflict
unhinge
dismay
make desolate
go crazy
get someone’s goat
go mad
irritate
make sad
haunt
bring tears to someone’s eyes
break someone’s spirit
exasperate
make gloomy
sadden
break someone’s heart
irk
infuriate
harass
anger
annoy
rage
depress
exercise
arouse
make someone’s heart bleed
make unhappy
disquiet
aggravate
get someone’s dander up
dodder
Overall, the word placate means to comfort or quell troubled waters. Placate is connotative of calm things like a saucer of milk.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.