What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
appeasing
Example
She tried appeasing her boss by completing the project ahead of schedule. [appeasing: present participle]
Example
The government offered appeasement measures to the protesting citizens. [appeasement: noun]
placate
Example
He tried to placate his upset friend by apologizing for his mistake. [placate: verb]
Example
The company offered a generous refund to placate the dissatisfied customers. [placate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Placate is more commonly used than appease in everyday language. Placate is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while appease is less common and often used in specific situations involving conflicts or disagreements.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between appeasing and placate?
While placate is slightly more formal than appease, both words can be used in both formal and informal contexts.