Appease vs. Placate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
Appease means to calm someone by meeting their demands, often by making concessions, while placate refers to soothing someone's anger or irritation, usually with conciliatory actions or gestures.
Difference Between Appease and Placate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Appease is often used in the context of making compromises or concessions to satisfy someone's demands, especially to prevent conflict. Placate focuses on soothing or calming anger, often by reassuring someone rather than making significant concessions.
Appease carries a slightly negative connotation, implying yielding or giving in to avoid further problems. Placate generally has a more neutral tone, emphasizing a genuine effort to calm or reassure.
Appease is often used in political or historical contexts where one party gives in to demands for peace or stability. Placate is used in everyday contexts to describe efforts to calm someone down after a disagreement.
Appease can suggest an imbalance of power where the appeaser is coerced into submission. Placate doesn't imply such pressure, indicating a willingness to mend relationships.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
Satisfy demands to prevent conflict
Calm someone's anger or irritation
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Connotation
Slightly negative, implies yielding
More neutral, focuses on reassurance
Usage Context
Political or historical compromises
Everyday disagreements or disputes
Nature
Meeting demands through concessions
Calming through conciliatory actions
Power Dynamics
Suggests imbalance of power
Less focused on power imbalance
Compare with Definitions
Appease
To make concessions to prevent conflict.
He tried to appease his critics by promising a thorough investigation.
Placate
To calm someone's anger or irritation.
The manager tried to placate the dissatisfied customer with a refund.
Appease
To satisfy demands for peace.
The government attempted to appease the protesters by agreeing to their main demand.
Placate
To alleviate someone's hostility.
They placated the disgruntled employee by offering a pay raise.
Appease
To pacify an aggressive party.
The treaty was designed to appease neighboring nations and avoid war.
Placate
To soothe feelings through reassurance.
He placated his friend's concerns with a sincere apology.
Appease
To give in to a demand reluctantly.
She appeased her manager's strict requests to maintain a good relationship.
Placate
To make peace with someone.
She placated her partner with a thoughtful gift after the argument.
Appease
To calm by yielding.
The parent appeased the child with candy to stop the tantrum.
Placate
To ease tension with conciliatory actions.
The company placated the community by improving safety measures.
Appease
To placate or attempt to placate (a threatening nation, for example) by granting concessions, often at the expense of principle.
Placate
Make (someone) less angry or hostile
They attempted to placate the students with promises
Appease
To calm, soothe, or quiet (someone)
Appeased the baby with a pacifier.
Placate
To allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease.
Appease
To satisfy, relieve, or assuage
Appease one's thirst.
Placate
(transitive) To calm; to bring peace to; to influence someone who was furious to the point that they become content or at least no longer irate.
Appease
To make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace; to dispel (anger or hatred).
To appease the tumult of the ocean
Placate
Same as Placard, 4 & 5.
Appease
To come to terms with; to adapt to the demands of.
They appeased the angry gods with burnt offerings.
Placate
To appease; to pacify; to concilate.
Appease
To make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace; to still; to pacify; to dispel (anger or hatred); as, to appease the tumult of the ocean, or of the passions; to appease hunger or thirst.
Placate
Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;
She managed to mollify the angry customer
Appease
Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;
She managed to mollify the angry customer
Appease
Overcome or allay;
Quell my hunger
Appease
Make peace with
Common Curiosities
Is placating always effective?
Not always. If not sincere or insufficient, attempts to placate can be unsuccessful.
Is appease a negative term?
Appease often carries a negative tone, implying weakness or giving in.
Is appease only used in politics?
No, while common in political contexts, it can also describe personal situations where one yields to avoid conflict.
Does placate always imply an apology?
Not necessarily, placating can involve any action that helps soothe anger or irritation.
Is appease only used in serious situations?
Not exclusively. It can also describe everyday situations where someone tries to prevent conflict.
Is there a situation where placate is inappropriate?
In cases where someone is manipulating or bullying, placating may reinforce their behavior.
Is placate about giving in to demands?
Not always. It's more about reducing tension or anger, often through negotiation.
Is placate generally positive or negative?
It is generally neutral or positive since it focuses on soothing and calming.
Can you appease without conceding much?
Appeasing usually involves a significant concession to satisfy demands.
Can you placate someone unintentionally?
Typically, placating requires a deliberate effort to calm someone down.
Does placating always involve a gift?
No, placating can also include verbal reassurance or addressing concerns directly.
Can appease and placate be synonyms?
They can sometimes be interchangeable, but placate is often milder in tone.
Is appease only used in verbal contexts?
No, it can include written agreements or actions that satisfy demands.
Does appease mean the same as pacify?
Similar, but appease often implies making concessions, while pacify is about calming down directly.
Are both terms used in negotiations?
Yes, both can be used in negotiations, but appease often involves larger compromises.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
