propitiate

verb

pro·pi·ti·ate prō-ˈpi-shē-ˌāt

propitiated; propitiating

Synonyms of propitiate

transitive verb

: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease

propitiator

prō-ˈpi-shē-ˌā-tər

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for propitiate

pacify, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of.

pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

Examples of propitiate in a Sentence

He made an offering to propitiate the angry gods. the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

The credulous faith that these superpowers will voluntarily settle for some form of peaceful coexistence, if only they are sufficiently propitiated with concessions, is naive and dangerous. —Michael Miklaucic, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2025 Since 1979, the United States has sought to contain or propitiate the regime in Tehran. —Danielle Pletka, National Review, 6 Nov. 2023