propitiating
Seeking divine favor
Propitiating is the act of appeasing or winning favor from someone who is angry, hostile, or potentially threatening.
The word often appears in religious or formal contexts—propitiating the gods, propitiating an offended party: The villagers made offerings, propitiating spirits they believed controlled the harvest.
The aim is to turn hostility into goodwill through concession or sacrifice.
Easing another's anger
- mollifyingReducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- conciliatingCalming hostile parties
assuaging · calming · appeasing · disarming · quelling · softening · easing · mitigating
Giving up something precious
- offeringSomething presented or given
- libationCeremonial drink offering
- altarSacred ritual table
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
incense · prayer · shrine · votive · rites · ablution · purification · burnt offering
Supernatural beings worshipped
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- deitiesWorshipped supernatural beings
- demonsMalevolent supernatural beings
wrath · blessing · divine favor · intercession · mercy · forgiveness · penance · atonement
Deliberate favor-seeking behavior
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- courtingRomantic pursuit of another
- charmAttractive personal quality
- goodwillKindly, generous spirit
benevolence · compliment · sweetening · wooing · fawning · cajoling · blandishment · olive branch
placating
Easing another's anger
- mollifyingReducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
conciliating · assuaging · calming · appeasing · disarming · quelling · softening · easing · mitigating · alleviating
sacrifice
Giving up something precious
ceremony · incense · prayer · shrine · votive · rites · ablution · purification · burnt offering · temple
gods
Supernatural beings worshipped
- spiritsLiquor or apparitions
- ancestorsThose from whom one descends
- deitiesWorshipped supernatural beings
demons · wrath · blessing · divine favor · intercession · mercy · forgiveness · penance · atonement · sacred
ingratiation
Deliberate favor-seeking behavior
- flatteryExcessive insincere praise
- courtingRomantic pursuit of another
- charmAttractive personal quality
goodwill · benevolence · compliment · sweetening · wooing · fawning · cajoling · blandishment · olive branch · gift-giving
propitiatingantagonizing
Deliberately causing hostility
provoking · enraging · angering · infuriating · incensing
propitiatingdefying
Actively refusing obedience
resisting · challenging · opposing · rebelling · confronting