as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
a placating comment that seemed to calm everyone down a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of
attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of placating
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
But there’s no guarantee her successor will have any better success at placating the president.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The story’s correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused CBS News management of placating the White House, turning the decision into a public relations fiasco for the network.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The majority of the more than 200 speakers at the hearings, however, criticized the draft plan, often with passionate testimony, arguing that the state was simply placating water users and failing to demand the deeper water cutbacks necessary for restoring the delta and the upstream rivers.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai made the biggest Smash yet, as the title suggests, taking years of post-release development and placating a fanbase that had hulking expectations, ending up with the third best selling game on Nintendo Switch.
—Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
This replaces placating with directly communicating out of respect for your longstanding relationship.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to tread a thin line between placating Polish sensitivities and avoiding the wrath of nationalist Ukrainians.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
If Paul’s creed is essentially Roman, then Christianity looks, from the outset, like a religion trained to live with empire, its compass always set toward placating power.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
But there’s no guarantee her successor will have any better success at placating the president.
—Eric Tucker, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The story’s correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi accused CBS News management of placating the White House, turning the decision into a public relations fiasco for the network.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The majority of the more than 200 speakers at the hearings, however, criticized the draft plan, often with passionate testimony, arguing that the state was simply placating water users and failing to demand the deeper water cutbacks necessary for restoring the delta and the upstream rivers.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026
In 2018, Masahiro Sakurai made the biggest Smash yet, as the title suggests, taking years of post-release development and placating a fanbase that had hulking expectations, ending up with the third best selling game on Nintendo Switch.
—Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
The nominee will face a high-wire act of placating the president (who wants steep interest rate cuts) while keeping the trust of investors worried about high inflation and political influence on the central bank.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2025
This replaces placating with directly communicating out of respect for your longstanding relationship.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought to tread a thin line between placating Polish sensitivities and avoiding the wrath of nationalist Ukrainians.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for placating
Verb
-
Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
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But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Even Meloni’s fiercest political opponent, Elly Shlein, head of the opposition Democratic Party, made a rare conciliatory comment about her.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Magyar's statement was likely greeted with pleasure by many across the European Union, who had grown accustomed to Orbán's conciliatory tone when discussing the war or Putin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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For designer Anita Yokota, Benjamin Moore’s Smoky Blue is a standout—a soothing, nature-nodding hue that soothes on sight.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Spray dry toilet paper with cleansing, soothing and refreshing Pristine to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and safe for your sewer and septic systems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Save your hammam for the evening and head straight to bed afterwards for the most comforting results.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
There is something comforting, to me, about this churn of champions and challengers.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But statement that seems so benevolent can be anything but.—
Kathy and Ross Petrass,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
-
With the eventual blessing of his benevolent landlords, Grattan has completely transformed the rental unit— widening doorways, upgrading electrical systems, and reimagining every wall and ceiling.—
Sam Cochran,
Architectural Digest,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Courtesy: Apple Apple on Tuesday sent invites to the media and analysts for a launch event at its campus on September 9 at 10 A.M pacific time.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Located in the Tuscan countryside 30 minutes from Florence, the property offers plenty of space and a peaceful escape with easy access to a wealth of museums, galleries, restaurants, and boutiques.—
Jessica Puckett,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
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Others talk about a kind of quiet that does not feel peaceful.—
Ana Jarzin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the interiors were sophisticated, very calming, and in keeping with the stunning natural world surrounding, there was lots of wood, and lots of nooks and hammocks to bed down in and relax with a good book.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
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Your bathtub should feel like a calming place to unwind and enjoy an inviting soak after a long day.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Placating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placating. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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