propitiatory
Meant to placate
Propitiatory describes something intended to appease or regain favor—to turn away anger or displeasure.
A propitiatory gesture attempts to calm someone offended: He made propitiatory noises about respecting her boundaries.
The word carries religious overtones from sacrifices meant to appease deities, but applies broadly to any act of conciliation or atonement.
Something presented or given
- oblationReligious gift offering
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- altarSacred ritual table
- libationCeremonial drink offering
votive · incense · immolation · hecatomb · holocaust · consecration · ceremonial · temple
Reducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- placatingEasing another's anger
- conciliatingCalming hostile parties
- assuagingLessening intensity or severity
calming · soothing · disarming · peacemaking · reconciling · mediating · diplomatic · olive-branch
Intended to atone
- penitentialExpressing sorrow for wrongdoing
- redemptiveRestoring worth or virtue
- reparativeTending to fix damage
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
restitution · redress · atonement · penance · contrition · remorseful · apologetic · repentant
Religious reverence and praise
- reverentFeeling profound respect
- supplicatoryExpressing humble petition
- prayerfulGiven to worship
- devoutDeeply religious, sincere
religious · sacred · liturgical · sacramental · blessing · thanksgiving · intercession · veneration
Inclined to pardon offenses
- compassionateShowing concern for sufferers
- mercifulDisposed toward forgiveness
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
- benevolentDesiring others' welfare
charitable · lenient · clement · forbearing · magnanimous · pardoning · indulgent · tolerant
offering
Something presented or given
libation · votive · incense · immolation · hecatomb · holocaust · consecration · ceremonial · temple · priest
mollifying
Reducing anger or hostility
- pacifyingCalming someone agitated
- placatingEasing another's anger
- conciliatingCalming hostile parties
assuaging · calming · soothing · disarming · peacemaking · reconciling · mediating · diplomatic · olive-branch · bridge-building
expiatory
Intended to atone
- penitentialExpressing sorrow for wrongdoing
- redemptiveRestoring worth or virtue
- reparativeTending to fix damage
amends · restitution · redress · atonement · penance · contrition · remorseful · apologetic · repentant · absolution
worship
Religious reverence and praise
- reverentFeeling profound respect
- supplicatoryExpressing humble petition
- prayerfulGiven to worship
devout · religious · sacred · liturgical · sacramental · blessing · thanksgiving · intercession · veneration · humble
forgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
- compassionateShowing concern for sufferers
- mercifulDisposed toward forgiveness
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
benevolent · charitable · lenient · clement · forbearing · magnanimous · pardoning · indulgent · tolerant · understanding
propitiatoryprovocative
Meant to provoke response
inflammatory · antagonizing · inciting · provoking · aggravating
propitiatoryantagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
bellicose · belligerent · combative · pugnacious · truculent
appease, propitious, expiate, conciliatory, propitiate, propitiation, propitiated