1
Core action
Make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
Example
Officials offered refunds to placate angry customers.
placate
/pləˈkeɪt/ · pluh-KAYTverb
Make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
Use placate to express this relationship precisely: make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
What placate 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
The minor concession failed to placate the protesters.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
She tried to placate the audience by acknowledging its concerns.
Use placate Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Officials offered refunds to placate angry customers.
The minor concession failed to placate the protesters.
She tried to placate the audience by acknowledging its concerns.
Precision Matters
Placate overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
placate
vs.Means make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
quell
Means suppress, calm, or bring an uprising, disturbance, fear, or strong feeling under control.
placate
vs.Means make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
cajole
Means persuade someone to do something through persistent flattery, gentle pressure, or coaxing.
placate
vs.Means make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
irate
Means extremely angry.
placate
vs.Means make an angry, dissatisfied, or hostile person calmer and less likely to oppose or retaliate.
appease
Means to calm anger or discontent, often by meeting demands or making concessions.
Test placate in Context
The company tries to calm dissatisfied customers.
1
The company issued an apology and offered compensation to ___ customers angered by the delay.