to placate him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to 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 a disagreement or conflict. Example: "She offered him a gift to placate him after their argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

The animals fight a losing battle to retrieve the Emeralds until Chaos absorbs all seven and becomes giant, but an echidna girl named Tikal, who entombed herself and Chaos in the Master Emerald millennia ago, emerges to help placate him.

Wikipedia

God told him to kill all other tribes that stood in his way or that would not placate him with assurances of loyalty or bribes.

Huffington Post

I placate him.

Huffington Post

Wiener's response did not placate him.

Los Angeles Times

Now, without paying too high a regulatory price, it has to placate Mr Almunia.Not only him.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to placate him" when you want to convey the idea of appeasing someone, often to prevent further conflict or dissatisfaction. The phrase is suitable when someone is upset or demanding, and you're taking steps to calm them down.

Common error

Avoid using "to placate him" as a long-term strategy if the underlying issues causing his discontent are not addressed. Continually trying to appease without solving the core problems can lead to resentment and further issues down the line. Solve the root cause instead of relying on temporary appeasement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to placate him" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It indicates the reason or intention behind an action, aiming to calm or appease the person in question. As Ludwig confirms, it is frequently used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

12%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to placate him" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase that describes the act of appeasing someone, typically to avoid conflict or restore calm. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly found in news and media sources and carries a neutral tone. While "to placate him" is effective for managing immediate tensions, it's crucial to address underlying issues to ensure long-term resolution. Alternatives like "to appease him" or "to soothe him" can offer slightly different nuances depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to appease him

Focuses on satisfying or pacifying someone, often by acceding to their demands.

to pacify him

Implies calming someone who is angry or agitated.

to soothe him

Suggests a gentle and comforting approach to calm someone's feelings.

to mollify him

Highlights reducing someone's anger or anxiety.

to conciliate him

Emphasizes reconciling with someone to restore goodwill.

to propitiate him

Implies appeasing someone, often a deity or powerful figure, through specific actions or offerings.

to satisfy him

Focuses on fulfilling someone's needs or desires to make them content.

to calm him down

A more direct way of saying to reduce someone's agitation.

to make peace with him

Highlights the act of restoring friendly relations.

to win him over

Suggests persuading someone to support or agree with you.

FAQs

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

You can use "to placate him" to describe actions taken to appease someone, often to prevent conflict. For example, "She offered a sincere apology "to placate him" after the misunderstanding".

What are some alternatives to "to placate him"?

Alternatives include "to appease him", "to pacify him", or "to soothe him", depending on the specific context and the nuances you wish to convey.

Is "to placate him" formal or informal?

"To placate him" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in written or slightly more formal spoken language.

What's the difference between "to placate him" and "to appease him"?

While similar, "to placate him" often implies calming someone down from a state of anger or agitation, while "to appease him" can also involve satisfying someone's demands or desires to maintain peace.