Placate
Customer service scripts, parents of toddlers, and diplomats at small tables all practice this art of lowering the temperature.
Learn This WordMeaning
To make someone less angry or hostile; to appease or pacify.
Memory trick
PLA-CATE: think "please the irate", calm someone who’s upset.
Examples
She tried to placate upset customers with a sincere apology and a refund.
The manager placated the team by extending the deadline.
Empty promises rarely placate people who want real change.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin placare "to calm, appease," from placidus "calm, gentle."
Usage Notes
Often implies calming anger or tension. Can sound slightly negative if it suggests appeasement without fixing root issues.
Real-life contexts
Use in conflict: "Let’s placate the concern first, then address the root cause."
Use carefully: "I’m not trying to placate you, I want to fix this."
Use in service: "We placated the client with a clear timeline."
Common Mistakes
Placate is transitive: you placate a person or group, not “placate to.”
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Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
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