Definitions
- Referring to an action taken to appease or satisfy a deity or supernatural power. - Talking about an attempt to gain favor or forgiveness from someone in authority. - Describing an effort to calm or pacify someone who is angry or upset.
- Describing an attempt to calm or soothe someone who is angry or upset. - Referring to an action taken to reduce tension or conflict between two parties. - Talking about an effort to make someone feel better or less anxious.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words refer to actions taken to calm or pacify someone or something.
- 2Both words involve an attempt to reduce tension or conflict.
- 3Both words can be used in situations where someone is angry or upset.
What is the difference?
- 1Focus: Propitiate emphasizes gaining favor or forgiveness, while placate focuses on calming or soothing.
- 2Context: Propitiate is often used in religious or supernatural contexts, while placate is more commonly used in interpersonal relationships.
- 3Intensity: Propitiate implies a more significant effort or sacrifice than placate.
- 4Connotation: Propitiate can have a negative connotation of trying to manipulate or control, while placate is generally neutral or positive.
Remember this!
Propitiate and placate are synonyms that both refer to actions taken to calm or pacify someone or something. However, propitiate emphasizes gaining favor or forgiveness, often in religious or supernatural contexts, while placate focuses on calming or soothing in interpersonal relationships. Additionally, propitiate implies a more significant effort or sacrifice than placate, and propitiate can have a negative connotation of trying to manipulate or control.
