Placate

To Placate means to make someone less angry or hostile, often by giving them something or doing something that appeases or satisfies them. It involves soothing or pacifying someone who is upset or agitated. The aim is to defuse a tense situation and restore a sense of calm and understanding. Placating can involve compromise, offering reassurance, or making concessions. It’s a strategy used to avoid conflict and maintain a positive relationship, but it's not necessarily about resolving the underlying issue, just temporarily diminishing its intensity.

Placate meaning with examples

• The company attempted to Placate angry customers by offering a full refund and a voucher for future purchases after the product malfunction. The customer service representative's calm demeanor and willingness to listen helped Placate the customer, preventing further escalation. This proactive approach helped salvage the company's reputation, though a long-term fix was still needed.
• To Placate her demanding toddler, the mother gave him a cookie. The simple act of offering a sweet treat quickly changed the child's frown into a smile. While not a long-term solution for dealing with tantrums, the cookie did Placate the immediate outburst, allowing the mother to resume her errands without further interruptions, albeit temporarily.
• The government tried to Placate the protestors by promising a review of the controversial policy. Despite the protesters' continued concerns, this response aimed to show goodwill and offer a gesture of appeasement. It's important to note that such attempts to pacify may not always work, but were attempted nonetheless to reduce social unrest and gain time.
• During the negotiation, the mediator tried to Placate both sides by suggesting several compromises, aiming for a middle ground. The mediator listened carefully to each party's concerns and sought to find common ground by proposing a mix of concessions. This facilitated communication between the involved parties, moving them toward a resolution.