Placate
mediumPositive tonePLAY-kayt
verb
Definition
To make someone less angry or hostile; to appease
Memory hook
PLACATE sounds like PLACE-ATE: place food before an angry person and they calm down.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The company tried to placate angry customers with refunds.”
“Nothing could placate his wounded pride.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The company tried to ______ angry customers with refunds.”
Show answer
placate
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Placate is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "mollify" or "appease" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "provoke".
Related GRE Words
appease
To pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands
pacify
To bring peace to; to calm down; to appease
propitiate
to appease or win the goodwill of
mollify
To appease the anger or anxiety of someone
ambivalent
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something
animosity
Strong hostility or hatred
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