Conciliate: meaning, definitions and examples

Useful in formal situations where someone is trying to gain the favor or reduce the anger of someone else, especially in diplomatic, business, or legal contexts.

• The manager attempted to conciliate the disgruntled employees by promising to address their concerns.
• The diplomat conciliated the warring factions through a series of strategic compromises.

Used when restoring friendly relations between people or making ideas or facts consistent with each other. Common in personal relationships, but also in academic or analytical contexts.

• After years of estrangement, the siblings finally reconciled.
• The historian attempted to reconcile the different accounts of the event.

Applicable in situations where someone is acting as an intermediary to help resolve a dispute or conflict between two or more parties. Common in legal, workplace, or familial disputes.

• She was asked to mediate the conflict between the two departments.
• A professional mediator was brought in to negotiate the peace agreement.

Usually implies calming someone who is angry, upset, or agitated. Can be used in both personal and broader social contexts, but may carry a slight negative connotation if seen as placating.

• The mother pacified the crying baby with a bottle.
• The government introduced policies to pacify the protesting citizens.