conciliate

UK: /kənˈsɪlieɪt/ US: /kənˈsɪliˌeɪt/ ,(kən sil′ē āt′)

Inflections of 'conciliate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

conciliates

v 3rd person singular

conciliating

v pres p

conciliated

v past

conciliated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•cil•i•ate /kənˈsɪliˌeɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate;
   win the goodwill of:
   tried to conciliate the angry union members.

con•cil•i•at•ing, adj. 
con•cil•i•at•ing•ly, adv. 
con•cil•i•a•tion /kənˌsɪliˈeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
con•cil•i•a•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

con•cil•i•ate  (kən sil′ē āt′), v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to overcome the distrust or hostility of; placate;
   win over:
   to conciliate an angry competitor.
2. to win or gain (goodwill, regard, or favor).
3. to make compatible;
   reconcile.

v.i. 

4. to become agreeable or reconciled:
   Efforts to conciliate in the dispute proved fruitless.

• Latin conciliātus (past participle of conciliāre to bring together, unite, equivalent. to concili(um) council + -ātus -ate¹
• 1540–50

con•cil•i•a•ble  (kən sil′ē ə bəl), adj.  con•cil′i•at′ing•ly, adv. 
con•cil′i•a′tion, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See appease. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

conciliate / kənˈsɪlɪˌeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to overcome the hostility of; placate; win over
2. to win or gain (favour, regard, etc), esp by making friendly overtures

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin conciliāre to bring together, from concilium council

conˈciliable adjective

conˈciliˌator noun