1
Core action
Reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
Example
The mayor offered concessions to conciliate angry residents.
conciliate
/kənˈsɪlieɪt/ · kun-SIL-ee-aytverb
Reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
Use conciliate to express this relationship precisely: reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
What conciliate Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
A neutral mediator tried to conciliate the two factions.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Her apology was intended to conciliate rather than merely defend.
Use conciliate Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The mayor offered concessions to conciliate angry residents.
A neutral mediator tried to conciliate the two factions.
Her apology was intended to conciliate rather than merely defend.
Precision Matters
Conciliate overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
conciliate
vs.Means reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
antagonize
Means provoke hostility in someone or make that person become opposed or unfriendly.
conciliate
vs.Means reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
castigate
Means reprimand or criticize someone severely for wrongdoing or failure.
conciliate
vs.Means reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
suppress
Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.
conciliate
vs.Means reduce hostility, win goodwill, or restore friendly relations with an angry or opposing person or group.
assuage
Means make an unpleasant feeling, fear, pain, or concern less intense; soothe or relieve it.
Test conciliate in Context
Management acts to reduce hostility and regain goodwill.
1
Hoping to ___ the striking workers, management reopened negotiations and withdrew the penalty.