placate him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "placate him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the act of calming or appeasing someone, often after they have been upset or angry. Example: "To avoid further conflict, she decided to placate him with a sincere apology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

King attempted to placate him.

The New Yorker

The lower orders try to placate him.

The Guardian - Music

I said something, hoping to placate him.

The Guardian - Books

Others try to placate him, Israelites and Philistines alike.

The New York Times - Books

In an effort to placate him, ITVS sent him a box of candy.

The New Yorker

The mananger, fearful of his own job, tried to placate him.

The New Yorker

You are more likely to overtip a surly waiter to placate him, or her.

The New Yorker

Kerry and Lieberman spent hours alone with Graham, trying to placate him.

The New Yorker

A BLM announcement that the round-up was suspended failed to placate him.

The Guardian

Mr. Kahan sought to placate him: "I'm very concerned," he told Mr. Adler, of Wantagh, N.Y.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Something about doomsday movies placates him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "placate him" when you want to convey the act of appeasing someone who is potentially upset or demanding. It's often used in situations where maintaining harmony or preventing conflict is a priority.

Common error

Avoid using "placate him" in situations where simply satisfying someone's needs is sufficient. "Satisfy him" might be a better fit if there's no underlying tension or potential for conflict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "placate him" functions as a verb phrase, where "placate" is a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("him"). As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "placate him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the act of appeasing or calming someone, typically to avoid conflict or maintain peace. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and prevalence across varied sources, but warns overusing it in simple situations. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts but is suitable for encyclopedias and wiki as well. While generally neutral, consider more formal synonyms like "appease him" in specific settings. Remembering its core meaning and typical usage will help you effectively incorporate "placate him" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appease him

A more formal synonym, suggesting satisfying demands to prevent conflict.

soothe him

Focuses on calming someone who is agitated or upset.

pacify him

Implies restoring peace by satisfying or subduing someone.

mollify him

Suggests reducing someone's anger or anxiety.

satisfy him

Indicates fulfilling someone's needs or desires.

win him over

Suggests gaining someone's favor or agreement.

make concessions to him

Involves yielding on certain points to appease someone.

keep him happy

Focuses on maintaining someone's contentment.

throw him a bone

An idiomatic expression for giving someone a small concession to keep them quiet.

give him what he wants

A direct approach implying compliance with someone's desires.

FAQs

How can I use "placate him" in a sentence?

You can use "placate him" to describe actions taken to appease someone, such as "She tried to "placate him" with a sincere apology" or "The manager attempted to "placate him" by offering a discount".

What are some alternatives to "placate him"?

Alternatives include "appease him", "soothe him", or "mollify him", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "placate him" instead of "satisfy him"?

"Placate him" is appropriate when the goal is to calm someone down or prevent them from becoming angry or difficult, whereas "satisfy him" simply means fulfilling his needs or desires without necessarily addressing any underlying tension.

Is "placate him" a formal or informal expression?

"Placate him" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "appease him" might be preferred in more formal writing.