placating
Calming someone down
Placating is attempting to calm or appease someone who is angry or upset.
The word suggests making concessions or soothing gestures to reduce hostility: She offered a placating smile.
Placating often implies the effort is strategic rather than sincere—aimed at avoiding conflict rather than addressing underlying grievances.
Reducing distress or discomfort
- mollifyingReducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- reassuringRestoring calm or confidence
- quietingMaking something still
gentling · softening · easing · defusing · tranquilizing · lulling · tempering · sedating
Act of placating deity
- assuagingLessening intensity or severity
- satisfyingProducing fulfillment or pleasure
- indulgingSatisfying a craving
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
yielding · kowtowing · groveling · fawning · caving · surrendering · deferring · humoring
Resolving disputes through dialogue
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- appeasementSatisfying demands to prevent conflict
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
reconciliation · arbitration · peacemaking · detente · rapprochement · olive-branch · accord · settlement
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
- mollifyingReducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- reassuringRestoring calm or confidence
quieting · gentling · softening · easing · defusing · tranquilizing · lulling · tempering · sedating · stilling
propitiation
Act of placating deity
- assuagingLessening intensity or severity
- satisfyingProducing fulfillment or pleasure
- indulgingSatisfying a craving
capitulating · yielding · kowtowing · groveling · fawning · caving · surrendering · deferring · humoring · catering
conciliation
Resolving disputes through dialogue
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- appeasementSatisfying demands to prevent conflict
compromise · reconciliation · arbitration · peacemaking · detente · rapprochement · olive-branch · accord · settlement · resolution
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- people-pleasingappeasing, accommodating, pandering, going along, giving in
- reassuring actionscomforting, calming, soothing, reassuring, consoling
- conversation tacticsactive listening, mirroring, small talk, deflection, changing subject
- peaceful traitspeaceful, gentle, calm, soothing, peaceable
- self-carebathing, self-care, renewal, brushing teeth, bath bombs
placatingprovoking
Causing a reaction
antagonizing · enraging · angering · infuriating · agitating
placatingantagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
combative · defiant · aggressive · belligerent · hostile