placating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of placatingnext
as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility a placating comment that seemed to calm everyone down a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

placating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of placate
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for placating
  1. appeasing
  2. conciliatory
  3. soothing
  4. benevolent
  5. pacific
  6. kind
  7. peaceful
Verb
  • According to Atlas Obscura, also on Christmas Eve, some families believe in appeasing the nisser—barn-dwelling house elves that are said to help residents survive tough winters—and many children continue to leave a bowl of risengrød, or sweet porridge, for the folkloric creatures.
    Chad de Guzman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Other, less politically resistant Iranian films often show women inside in hijab, which is highly unrealistic and likely a mode of appeasing censors.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
Definition of appeasing
Adjective
  • Part of your role as a peacemaker is acknowledging the opportunities, highlighting when someone says something conciliatory, or shows kindness in conflict.
    Anna Shields, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • What has gone unremarked is that his tone toward Mexico at times is far more conciliatory today.
    Alex González Ormerod, TIME, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of conciliatory
Adjective
  • Through a blend of aloe vera, cucumber extract, and soy proteins, this wash aims to remove dirt and makeup, while soothing redness, hydrating skin, and boosting elasticity.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
  • It’s bundled with essential oil sets that offer soothing scents like lavender, jasmine, and citrus—ideal for stress relief, promoting better sleep, or enhancing a cozy atmosphere.
    Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of soothing
Adjective
  • Ensure that organizational leadership has a deep understanding of sexism—both hostile and benevolent—and genderwashing.
    Susan Madsen, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Online course listings enable faculty, students, and administrators to see which classes fill up the fastest and, by implication, which professors are perceived as benevolent and easygoing.
    Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2024
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • Xi must know that old societies tend to be pacific and that China is getting old fast.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Choose between two rich colors: pacific blue or yarrow gold.
    Sydney Gore, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2024
Definition of pacific
Adjective
  • Earlier this month the singer was spotted cheering on her beau with her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, and was praised for her kind interaction with fans.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Others shared similar heartwarming stories of kind ways their postal workers went out of their way to cleverly deliver presents in boxes that could’ve ruined holiday surprises.
    Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • On December 21, a peaceful Saturday afternoon, which included both NFL and college football games, the Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Iraq, North Korea, and Iran, all signatories of the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, concealed their nuclear weapons ambitions behind a 'peaceful' nuclear program.
    Thomas Bass Author, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of peaceful
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near placating

placates

placating

placative

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Placating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placating. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on placating

Nglish: Translation of placating for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of placating for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...