placate
Placate (verb) means to calm someone down and ease their anger. Example: “He offered a refund to placate the furious customer.”
How to use placate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo soothe someone's anger or make them less upset, often by giving them something they want.
Placate implies someone was already angry; it's not just "please" — you please a happy person, you placate an angry one.
Word forms
more placate comparative, placated past tense, placates singular, most placate superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He offered a refund to _____ the furious customer.
Etymology
From Latin placatus, "calmed, appeased," related to placere, "to please."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for placate
See all rhymes for placate →Frequently asked questions
What does “placate” mean?
The word “placate” means to calm someone down and ease their anger. In plain terms, to soothe someone's anger or make them less upset, often by giving them something they want.
How do you pronounce “placate”?
“Placate” is pronounced pluh-KAYT (/ˈpleɪkeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “placate” in a sentence?
Here is “placate” used in a sentence: “He offered a refund to placate the furious customer.”
What part of speech is “placate”?
“Placate” is a verb.
Where does the word “placate” come from?
The word “placate” comes from Latin. From Latin placatus, "calmed, appeased," related to placere, "to please.".
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