PLACATING Synonyms: 164 Similar and Opposite Words

placating 1 of 2

adjective

as in appeasing

tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility a placating comment that seemed to calm everyone down a bit

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placating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of placate

as in comforting

to lessen the anger or agitation of attempted to placate the screaming child by offering him a cookie

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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 placating

Verb

Too few sun loungers for the 116 rooms mean the charming pool staff are endlessly placating displaced and disgruntled sunbathers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026 But now these same firms have to navigate maintaining ties with the president while placating Democrats who could very well control both houses of Congress next year. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 In hopes of placating his daughters, Andrew bought Lizzie and Emma a home to rent out, per American Heritage. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Andy Burnham’s balancing act Rising costs also add to the pressure on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has pledged to tackle the cost-of-living burden but is also tasked with balancing the public books and placating the bond market. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 From the theorist’s vantage, the narrator’s couches will always be placating. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 Scam Buster is a bot that will reply to scammers in your inbox, placating them with the same social engineering tactics that scammers use, such as impersonation, flattery, and urgent messaging. — Kim Key, PC Magazine, 8 Aug. 2026 The note is there when Sugar gets back, placating his suspicions (for now) and deflating his ego. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 July 2026 Putin has struggled to manage fighting Kyiv on the one hand and placating domestic constituencies on the other. — Anna Nemtsova, Time, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for placating

Adjective

Adams, usually so conciliatory, plainly voices her disgust with the unethical Mexican clinic which gave McQueen false hope, and side-eyes his late-in-life turn to Christianity.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
For her part, the polarizing Molokoane — who has faced calls for her resignation from industry bodies — struck a conciliatory tone in Durban.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of conciliatory

Verb

The bill now also includes a compromise on stablecoin yield aimed at appeasing banking interests by directing the Treasury secretary to restrict rewards if deposit flight from community banks occurs on a substantial scale.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
In 1938, British, French, German and Italian leaders concluded the Munich Agreement, which was aimed at appeasing Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of appeasing

Adjective

For sensitive or dry underarms, the deodorant also uses a soothing blend of shea butter, spirulina, and niacinamide to keep pits comfortable all day long.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
On the upside, the villas are one of the more soothing spots for a mild hangover.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of soothing

Adjective

The meals here strike a strong balance between comforting and elevated, and all ingredients are locally sourced.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
In a city where change is constant — especially in the food and beverage scene — Charlotte’s classic restaurants are among the most beloved places to gather with family and friends or stop in for a comforting bite to eat.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of comforting

Adjective

Larger-than-life Halloween celebrations rise up every October like the Great Pumpkin (or a benevolent spooky spirit or two) to captivate visitors with parades, caramel apples, costume contests, and more.

— Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
Promotional images and films conjured a playful, adaptable and benevolent house — plastic as the building block of family happiness.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of benevolent

Adjective

The majority of the industry’s bycatch is jellyfish, pacific cod, and squid.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
National Aquarium cams The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, operates a series of cameras of marine animals, including reef sharks, jellyfish and fish in a Pacific coral reef.

— Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Definition of pacific

Adjective

But this month, the most violent demonstrations in years — and tough policing — have raised concern about riots overshadowing hundreds of thousands of peaceful demonstrators marching against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
As for the suites, the highlight is their private terraces, peaceful havens from which to admire, paradoxically, the urban whirlwind swirling below.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of peaceful

Adjective

There’s nothing more calming than watching people try to redo their houses into the home of their dreams.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Warm nutmeg milk Milk delivers tryptophan and calcium, while a pinch of nutmeg brings mild calming compounds.

— Patsy Anthony, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of calming

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placates

placating

placative

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Style

“Placating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/placating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of placating

adjective

verb

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