1
as in to excuse
to make (something) seem less bad by offering excuses
don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to alleviate
to make more bearable or less severe
this medicine should palliate your cough at least a little
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of palliate
Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own.
—Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023
Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior.
—New York Times, 20 June 2022
The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude.
—The New Yorker, 2 May 2022
Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers.
—Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022
In an effort to palliate these advocates, legislators offered a work-around, passing legislation to relax the restrictions on bail funds, allowing them to post higher bails and to bail out people facing Class-A felony charges.
—Nick Pinto, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2020
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024
Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days.
—Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024
Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own.
—Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023
Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior.
—New York Times, 20 June 2022
The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude.
—The New Yorker, 2 May 2022
Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers.
—Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022
In an effort to palliate these advocates, legislators offered a work-around, passing legislation to relax the restrictions on bail funds, allowing them to post higher bails and to bail out people facing Class-A felony charges.
—Nick Pinto, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for palliate
Verb
-
Their cry is not against the faith itself but against distorted theology that excuses cruelty.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
After Politico reported that Young Republicans expressed outrageously racist, misogynistic and anti-Semitic sentiments, Vice President JD Vance excused it as just the edgy chat of young activists.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In deeply unequal ways, the new era of networked industrialization and electrification began to alleviate the conditions of scarcity that had rendered many communities so vulnerable to the climatic disruptions of the LIA.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Many analysts had speculated Milei would, once the election was out of the way, tilt toward a floating currency — alleviating pressure on the nation’s trade position.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The midfield area certainly functioned better against Frankfurt, with Curtis Jones more than justifying his inclusion.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t to justify those prior murders.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Lower policy rates relieve pressure on floating-rate borrowers and can compress credit spreads before earnings estimates move.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Beijing would be relieved that the United States is no longer muddying and in fact strengthening its nonsupport for independence.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In March 2025, Chelsea gave PEOPLE an exclusive update on Max's health journey, explaining that their son has had to relearn basic functions and attend physical therapy.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The canal connected increasingly specialized regions in the early US, explains historian Roger Ransom.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When it was announced that Girls collaborators Jenni Konner and Bruce Eric Kaplan (both Jewish) had been hired as showrunners for Season 2, the news brought some hope that Konner’s perspective in particular would help to make these characters lovable.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Cunha helped earn his start by reporting to Carrington a day before scheduled last week after returning from Japan with Brazil.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Keep in mind that this spike and subsequent crash can be mitigated by pairing fruit juice with high-protein, high-fiber foods, which slow glucose release into the bloodstream, resulting in more stable blood sugar levels.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
28 Oct. 2025
-
But the United States can mitigate the risk by consistently encouraging vigilance about China’s threat to Taiwan.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The cool temperature may also soothe sore gums.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Aloe vera instantly soothes dryness, while jojoba, camellia, and almond oils keep your lips plush, soft, and supported.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Palliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/palliate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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