propitiate
verb
Pronunciation: prəˈpɪʃieɪt
Definition
Win or regain the favor of a god, spirit, or person by doing something that pleases them.
Examples
The ancient rituals were designed to propitiate the gods and ensure a bountiful harvest.
He tried to propitiate his angry boss by working late every night for a week.
They offered gifts to the tribal leader in an attempt to propitiate him after the border dispute.
How to Use propitiate
- propitiate someone (collocation)
- to make a person or deity favorable — "The king sought to propitiate his subjects with tax cuts."
- propitiate with (prepositional phrase)
- to use a specific item or action to win favor — "She tried to propitiate him with a sincere apology."
Synonyms of propitiate
Words with a similar meaning to propitiate:
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