conciliate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; win over.
to conciliate an angry competitor.
-
to win or gain (goodwill, regard, or favor).
-
to make compatible; reconcile.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to overcome the hostility of; placate; win over
-
to win or gain (favour, regard, etc), esp by making friendly overtures
-
archaic to make compatible; reconcile
Synonym Usage
See appease.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conciliate
1540–50; < Latin conciliātus (past participle of conciliāre to bring together, unite, equivalent to concili ( um ) council + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
The verb conciliate means to placate, appease, or pacify. If you are eating at a restaurant and the waiter accidentally spills a drink on you, the manager may try to conciliate you by picking up the tab for your meal. You may be more familiar with the term conciliation ––it can mean the flowers you bring to conciliate your girlfriend after a fight, or a politician's conciliatory offer to fund a new playground to a community that's just lost its school. Conciliate comes from the Latin word conciliare, meaning "to unite." Conciliare in turn comes from the Latin word concilium, meaning "council." If you remember their common etymology, you can remember that, like council, conciliate is spelled with only one l.
Vocabulary lists containing conciliate
Lee Surrenders to Grant (1865)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (1801)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Oliver Twist
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Conciliate him, and you may laugh at the pragmatic.
From Without Prejudice by Zangwill, Israel
Conciliate? it jest means be kicked, No metter how they phrase an' tone it; It means thet we're to set down licked, Thet we're poor shotes an' glad to own it!
From The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell by Lowell, James Russell
Timid men in the North began to cry: "Conciliate, conciliate!"
From The Battle of Principles A Study of the Heroism and Eloquence of the Anti-Slavery Conflict by Hillis, Newell Dwight
Conciliate, kon-sil′i-āt, v.t. to gain, or win over: to gain the love or good-will of such as have been indifferent or hostile: to pacify.—v.i. to make friends.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various
Things of no moment, colour of the hair, Shape of a leg, complexion brown or fair, 40 A dress well chosen, or a patch misplaced, Conciliate favour, or create distaste.
From Poetical Works by Churchill, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
