conciliate

[ kuhn-sil-ee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.

1. to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate; win over:

   to conciliate an angry competitor.

2. to win or gain (goodwill, regard, or favor).
3. to make compatible; reconcile.

verb (used without object)

, con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing.

1. to become agreeable or reconciled:

   Efforts to conciliate in the dispute proved fruitless.

conciliate

/ kənˈsɪlɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to overcome the hostility of; placate; win over
2. to win or gain (favour, regard, etc), esp by making friendly overtures
3. archaic.
   to make compatible; reconcile

Derived Forms

• conˈciliable, adjective
• conˈciliˌator, noun

Other Words From

• con·cil·i·a·ble [k, uh, n-, sil, -ee-, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• con·cili·ating·ly adverb
• con·cili·ation noun
• noncon·cili·ating adjective
• procon·cili·ation adjective
• uncon·cili·a·ble adjective
• uncon·cili·ated adjective
• uncon·cili·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conciliate¹

1540–50; < Latin conciliātus (past participle of conciliāre to bring together, unite, equivalent to concili ( um ) council + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of conciliate¹

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

Synonym Study

See appease.

Example Sentences

He will try to conciliate; he will, according to officials close to him, portray the current standoff as a battle between democratic institutions and the chaos of the street, orchestrated by the extreme left and slyly encouraged by the extreme right.

From New York Times

They have realized that like-minded countries need to spend more time working with one another and less time trying to conciliate leaders in Beijing and Pyongyang.

From Washington Post

Much as former President Barack Obama once courted congressional Republicans, Tromp sought to conciliate the conservative legislators.

From Salon

“By extending an olive branch to Massoud, the Taliban are telegraphing a desire to conciliate with a key resistance figure, likely with an eye toward dampening the prospects for broader armed opposition,” said Michael Kugelman, an expert on the region at the Wilson Center in Washington.

From Washington Post

Yes, pay them beforehand, soften the blow in advance, and conciliate their good will while we still have the chance.

From Salon