1
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to alleviate
to make more bearable or less severe
this medicine should palliate your cough at least a little
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of palliate
Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own.
—Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023
Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior.
—New York Times, 20 June 2022
The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude.
—The New Yorker, 2 May 2022
Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers.
—Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022
In an effort to palliate these advocates, legislators offered a work-around, passing legislation to relax the restrictions on bail funds, allowing them to post higher bails and to bail out people facing Class-A felony charges.
—Nick Pinto, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2020
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own.
—Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023
Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior.
—New York Times, 20 June 2022
The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude.
—The New Yorker, 2 May 2022
Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers.
—Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022
In an effort to palliate these advocates, legislators offered a work-around, passing legislation to relax the restrictions on bail funds, allowing them to post higher bails and to bail out people facing Class-A felony charges.
—Nick Pinto, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palliate
Verb
-
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers excused Musk from the witness stand Thursday, but he may be called back later.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Esposito worries about a growing illusion that efficiency tools can excuse leaders from the hard, intimate work of sitting with another human being to face some difficult problem.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scientists have been zapping brains to alleviate depression for decades through a method called transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In 2024, Overland Park approved a $1 million project to improve its storm sewer systems between Antioch and Switzer Roads near Indian Creek to alleviate flooding.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So far, that skepticism has appeared justified.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
This seeming deference to executive interests is particularly difficult to justify in an administration willing to flout court orders.—
Gregg Nunziata,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This measure also relieves pressure on the broader state budget by leaving more funds available for priorities like Medicaid, behavioral health, infrastructure, and public safety.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
We are relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Besides the driver, an amiable man who was happy to explain how the shredder worked, only a few nervous schoolchildren stood around, supervised by a woman with a badge that identified her as an envoy of the library.—
Mary Norris,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
The bulletin examined nutrition in common foods (especially meat, bread, and milk), explained how the body uses food as fuel, outlined dietary standards, and considered the economy of food, food waste, and connections between food and health.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, with Stanton presumably vacating the DH spot, the switch-hitting, defensively-subpar Domínguez, who is better from the left side, can help the Bombers against a string of right-handed starting pitchers.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Moon steadies Jupiter’s influence, helping practical decisions create emotional ease.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Those teams’ respective front office heads, Rob Pelinka and Tim Connelly, should take a bow for making moves that have mitigated the damage.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Lateral deformation and bowing can impact the placement and performance of fuel, and the monobloc construction of these tubes is designed to mitigate those issues.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Diaper rash cream, chocolate brown baby booties and throat-soothing lollipops littered the hotel bed.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
There’s truly nothing better than the scent of fresh laundry and soothing lavender!—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Palliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palliate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
