palliate

verb

pal·​li·​ate ˈpa-lē-ˌāt 

palliated; palliating

transitive verb

1

: to reduce the violence of (a disease)

also : to ease (symptoms) without curing the underlying disease

drugs to palliate the pain

2

: to cover by excuses and apologies

tried to palliate his blunder

3

: to moderate the intensity of

trying to palliate the boredom

did nothing to palliate the bitter disputes

palliation

ˌpa-lē-ˈā-shən 

noun

palliator

ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

Long ago, the ancient Romans had a name for the cloak-like garb that was worn by the Greeks (distinguishing it from their own toga); the name was pallium. In the 15th century, English speakers modified the Late Latin word palliatus, which derives from pallium, to form palliate. Our term, used initially as both an adjective and a verb, never had the literal Latin sense referring to the cloak you wear, but it took on the figurative "cloak" of protection. Specifically, the verb palliate meant (as it still can mean) "to lessen the intensity of a disease." The related adjective palliative describes medical care that focuses on relieving pain or discomfort rather than administering a cure.

Synonyms

• deodorize
• excuse
• explain away
• extenuate
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• whitewash

Examples of palliate in a Sentence

treatments that can palliate the painful symptoms of the disease

don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies

Recent Examples on the Web

Radiation can also be used to palliate painful bone metastases, as well as chemotherapy. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2024

Senior-home avatars who are designed to palliate dementia patients in their darkest days. —Longreads, 12 Apr. 2024

By the very nature of their profession, they are given entry into the universal kingdom of the sick, a place where all are united by a desire to palliate suffering. —Sushrut Jangi, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2014

Long hours of sitting masquerade as wellness, insecurity is palliated by snacks, and flexibility’s just another name for no time of your own. —Curbed, 4 Jan. 2023

Rhys drank heavily to palliate her burdens, and was known for tirades and other skunky behavior. —New York Times, 20 June 2022

The friends are teen-agers, both outcasts of a kind, lonely and looking for ways to palliate their solitude. —The New Yorker, 2 May 2022

Those would likely be limited to economic benefits to palliate the loss of crops and revenues for farmers. —Emilio Morenatti, ajc, 13 Feb. 2022

In an effort to palliate these advocates, legislators offered a work-around, passing legislation to relax the restrictions on bail funds, allowing them to post higher bails and to bail out people facing Class-A felony charges. —Nick Pinto, The New Republic, 6 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin palliatus, past participle of palliare to cloak, conceal, from Latin pallium cloak

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

palliate

verb

pal·​li·​ate ˈpal-ē-ˌāt 

palliated; palliating

1

: to make less harmful or harsh

2

: to find excuses for : excuse

Medical Definition

palliate

transitive verb

pal·​li·​ate ˈpal-ē-ˌāt 

palliated; palliating

: to reduce the intensity or severity of (a disease)

also : to ease (symptoms) without curing the underlying disease

palliation

ˌpal-ē-ˈā-shən 

noun