propitiate
/prəˈpɪʃ.i.eɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make someone less angry or upset by doing or giving something they want. It is often used in formal or literary English. It can also mean to calm a god, spirit, or force by offering something.
- He tried to propitiate his boss with an apology.
- The villagers made offerings to propitiate the gods.
Adinary Nuance
Propitiate is more formal than words like please or appease. It often suggests someone has upset a powerful person, or wants to calm a god or force. Use appease for avoiding conflict, and propitiate when the goal is to win favour or reduce anger.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- làm nguôi giận
- Spanish
- apaciguar
- Chinese
- 平息
- Japanese
- 機嫌を取る
- Korean
- 달래다
Etymology
Propitiate comes from Latin propitiare, from propitius, meaning “favourable.” It entered English in the late 1500s through learned writing.
Common phrases
propitiate the godspropitiate an angry bosspropitiate someone’s anger
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is propitiate formal or informal?
- It is formal and often appears in writing, speeches, or religious contexts.
- What is the difference between propitiate and appease?
- Propitiate means to reduce anger or gain favour, often from a powerful person or god. Appease means to calm someone or prevent disagreement.
- Can I use propitiate in everyday conversation?
- You can, but it may sound stiff. In daily speech, people often say calm, please, or make up to.
- Is propitiate a common IELTS word?
- Yes. It is useful in academic reading and formal writing, especially in history, religion, and literature.