propitiation
2 antonyms and opposites of propitiation, grouped by meaning.
Noun — In Christian theology, the turning away of divine wrath through a sacrifice, so that God's anger at sin is satisfied and the sinner can be accepted.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
In Christian theology, the turning away of divine wrath through a sacrifice, so that God's anger at sin is satisfied and the sinner can be accepted.
“The letter describes Christ as the propitiation for our sins.”
2. noun
The act of appeasing someone who is angry, or an offering made to do so.
“The gift was offered as a propitiation to a furious client.”
Opposites
Antonyms
How to use propitiation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and mostly religious or literary; rare in everyday speech.
Etymology
From Latin propitiatio, from propitiare "to appease, make favourable", from propitius "favourable".
Full origin of propitiation →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between propitiation and expiation?
Propitiation is directed at a person: it turns away God's wrath. Expiation is directed at the offence: it removes or covers the sin itself. Bible translations split on which idea the Greek hilasmos carries, which is why the two words appear in different versions of the same verse.
What is the difference between propitiation and atonement?
Atonement is the broad term for restoring a broken relationship between God and humanity. Propitiation names one particular aspect of it, the satisfying of divine wrath, so propitiation sits inside atonement rather than replacing it.