conciliate

[kuh n-sil-ee-eyt]

See more synonyms for conciliate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.

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), con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.

to become agreeable or reconciled: Efforts to conciliate in the dispute proved fruitless.

Origin of conciliate

1540–50; < Latin conciliātus (past participle of conciliāre to bring together, unite, equivalent to concili(um) council + -ātus -ate¹

Related formscon·cil·i·a·ble

[kuh n-sil-ee-uh-buh l] /kənˈsɪl i ə bəl/, adjectivecon·cil·i·at·ing·ly, adverbcon·cil·i·a·tion, nounnon·con·cil·i·at·ing, adjectivepro·con·cil·i·a·tion, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·a·ble, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·at·ed, adjectiveun·con·cil·i·at·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. See appease.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for conciliation

appeasement, rapprochement, resolution, reunion, propitiation, placation, reconcilement

Examples from the Web for conciliation

Contemporary Examples of conciliation

As I write, Morsi has only hours to meet the military deadline, but he shows no signs of conciliation.
The Mexican Standoff in Egypt
Hussein Ibish
July 3, 2013
But conciliation is constitutionally anathema to such fanatics.
Morsi-less: Are Egyptians Done with the Muslim Brothers?
Hussein Ibish
July 1, 2013
An inaugural moment in history steeped in a new language of Hope and Change and Conciliation.
Will a Tougher Obama Be Better?
Justin Green
January 22, 2013
Both nations are balancing threats with offers of conciliation.
Iran's Offer to Talk About Its Nuclear Program Eases Tension For Now
Michael Adler
February 18, 2012
Any sign of an impulse toward moderation or conciliation will only hurt Pawlenty with this crowd.
Can Pawlenty Survive the 'Pledge'?
Michelle Goldberg
July 14, 2011

Historical Examples of conciliation

Major Dugas' policy of conciliation had won personal regard.
The Hunted Outlaw
Anonymous
And in pursuance of the policy of conciliation, Andronicus II.
Byzantine Churches in Constantinople
Alexander Van Millingen
Conciliation was tried, but every effort in that direction failed.
Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman
J. H. (James Harvey) Kidd
An attitude of moderation and conciliation befits every candid person.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
Let us not be misled by any sophisms about conciliation and compromise.
The Writings of James Russell Lowell in Prose and Poetry, Volume V
James Russell Lowell

British Dictionary definitions for conciliation

conciliation

noun

the act or process of conciliating
a method of helping the parties in a dispute to reach agreement, esp divorcing or separating couples to part amicably

conciliate

verb (tr)

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

Derived Formsconciliable, adjectiveconciliator, noun

Word Origin for conciliate

C16: from Latin conciliāre to bring together, from concilium council

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for conciliation

1540s, from Middle French conciliation, from Latin conciliationem (nominative conciliatio) "a connection, union, bond," figuratively "a making friendly, gaining over," noun of action from past participle stem of conciliare (see conciliate).

conciliate

1540s, from Latin conciliatus, past participle of conciliare "to bring together, unite in feelings, make friendly," from concilium "council" (see council). Related: Conciliated; conciliating.