conciliatory

adjective

con·​cil·​ia·​to·​ry kən-ˈsil-yə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈsi-lē-ə-

: intended to gain goodwill or favor or to reduce hostility : tending or intended to conciliate

speaking in a conciliatory tone

But while the conference call might have been seen as a conciliatory gesture, an olive branch to his critics after weeks of bitter back-and-forth, the meeting seemed anything but.

—Colin Deppen

He was self-assured, aggressive, combative, at times willing to offend and at times trying to sound conciliatory.

—Dan Balz

Did you know?

If you are conciliatory towards someone, you're trying to win that person over to your side. The verb conciliate was borrowed into English in the mid-16th century and descends from the Latin verb conciliare, meaning "to assemble, unite, or win over." Conciliare, in turn, comes from Latin concilium, meaning "assembly" or "council." Conciliatory, which appeared in English a bit later in the 16th century, also traces back to conciliare. Another word that has conciliare as a root is reconcile, the earliest meaning of which is "to restore to friendship or harmony."

Synonyms

• appeasing
• conciliating
• disarming
• mollifying
• pacific
• pacifying
• peacemaking
• placating
• placatory
• propitiatory

Examples of conciliatory in a Sentence

eased the tension with conciliatory remarks

Recent Examples on the Web

Latimer sought to strike a conciliatory note in a victory speech to cheering supporters in White Plains. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 26 June 2024

Here are some highlights from Gov. Katie Hobbs’ State of the State address, which kicked off the first day of the legislative session: Hobbs struck a much more conciliatory than combative tone with lawmakers. —Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 9 Jan. 2024

At the least, any financial or political cover that Putin can provide enables Kim to ramp up the brinkmanship—alternating threats and conciliatory gestures to eke concessions—that has formed the bedrock of North Korean foreign policy since the days of Kim’s illustrious grandfather. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 19 June 2024

As a conciliatory gesture, Mr. McCain sent Mr. Fineman a pair of red boxing gloves. —Clay Risen, New York Times, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!