(尤指通过让步、安抚或满足对方要求来)平息、安抚(愤怒或不满的人),使其冷静下来。也可指缓和紧张局势。
/pləˈkeɪt/
She tried to placate the upset customer with a refund.
她试图用退款来安抚那位不满的顾客。
Although the committee disagreed, the chairperson offered a compromise to placate both sides and keep the project moving.
尽管委员会意见不一,主席仍提出折中方案来平息双方情绪,并让项目继续推进。
“Placate”源自拉丁语 placāre,意为“使满意、使平静”,与“取悦、让人满意”的含义相关。后来进入英语,语义侧重于“安抚怒气、平息不满”。