conciliate

American  

[kuhn-sil-ee-eyt] / kənˈsɪl iˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

conciliated, conciliating

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.

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verb (used without object)

conciliated, conciliating

1. to become agreeable or reconciled.

   Efforts to conciliate in the dispute proved fruitless.

conciliate British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See appease.

Other Word Forms

• conciliable adjective
• conciliatingly adverb
• conciliation noun
• conciliator noun
• nonconciliating adjective
• proconciliation adjective
• unconciliable adjective
• unconciliated adjective
• unconciliating adjective

Etymology

Origin of conciliate

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

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2022

He had to reward those who backed him, but many believe he also needed to conciliate those who were unhappy with his election.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2021

The purpose of politics — or, at any rate, one purpose — is to conciliate and to cooperate.

From Washington Post • Nov. 11, 2018

To conciliate Federalists who still resented the recent war, Monroe toured New England shortly after his inauguration and attracted widespread popular applause.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

Lyra knew that this was a time to conciliate, and she was happy to do that, having gotten her way.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman