placate crossword puzzle clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! Here you'll find all the possible solutions and explanations for the crossword clue "placate crossword puzzle clue". We provide a comprehensive list of answers, sorted by letter count, to help you complete your puzzle with ease.
Solutions for "placate crossword puzzle clue" by Letter Count
4 Letters
CALM: To make someone tranquil or less agitated. Often used when someone is upset or angry, bringing them to a state of peace.
5 Letters
QUIET: To make (someone or something) silent or calm. Implies reducing noise or disturbance to create tranquility.
6 Letters
PACIFY: To quell the anger, agitation, or excitement of. This answer implies bringing peace or order to a troubled situation or person.
SOOTHE: To gently calm a person or their feelings. This word often suggests a tender or comforting approach to calming distress.
7 Letters
APPEASE: To pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands or by giving in to their wishes. This answer can imply a concession to satisfy someone.
MOLLIFY: To appease the anger or anxiety of someone. Similar to appease, but often suggests softening someone's temper.
ASSUAGE: To make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense. This word can apply to calming fears, pain, or grief.
10 Letters
CONCILIATE: To stop (someone) from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify. This often involves mediation or making amends, aiming to reconcile differences.
More About "placate crossword puzzle clue"
"Placate" is a common verb in crosswords, often appearing in clues that require a synonym for calming, satisfying, or making someone less angry. Understanding its nuances is key to finding the right answer. The word itself comes from the Latin "placare," meaning "to calm" or "to please," which perfectly encapsulates its meaning in a puzzle context.
Clues for "placate" might be straightforward, asking directly for a synonym, or they could be more cryptic, using figurative language. For instance, a clue might refer to "smoothing ruffled feathers" or "winning over a critic." In such cases, remembering the core meaning of placating—to soothe resentment or anger—will guide you to suitable answers like APPEASE, PACIFY, or MOLLIFY, depending on the required length.
When solving, always consider the letter count provided by the grid. While many words mean "placate," only one will fit the specific number of boxes. Using crossing letters from other solved clues is crucial for confirming your choice and differentiating between similar-length synonyms.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Clue: Break down the clue. Is it a verb, noun, or adjective? Does it imply an action, a state, or a description? For "placate," you're almost always looking for a verb in the infinitive or past participle form.
- Consider Synonyms and Antonyms: Brainstorm direct synonyms for "placate" like 'calm', 'soothe', 'appease', but also think if the clue could be a reverse (e.g., "to make angry" would be the opposite).
- Check Letter Count First: Before you even think of an answer, count the available boxes. This immediately narrows down your options significantly. If you know you need a 7-letter word, you can quickly discard 4-letter options like 'CALM'.
- Use Crossing Letters: The most powerful tool in crossword solving is checking the letters that intersect with your potential answer. If you think an answer is 'PACIFY' but the 'C' doesn't match a crossing word, you know it's incorrect.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'placate' mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, 'placate' typically refers to making someone less angry or hostile. Synonyms often include words like calm, soothe, pacify, appease, or mollify. The clue asks you to find a word that conveys this sense of calming or reconciling.
How can I find the correct length for a 'placate' answer?
The correct length is determined by the number of empty squares in the crossword grid. If you have, for example, 6 empty squares, you'd look for a 6-letter synonym like PACIFY or SOOTHE. Always check the crossing letters you've already filled in to confirm your choice and narrow down possibilities.
Are there common tricks related to 'placate' clues?
Sometimes clues like 'placate' might be disguised with more figurative language, or they could refer to abstract concepts (e.g., placating fears, hunger, or concerns). Pay attention to the part of speech and any specific context implied by other words in the clue. Also, common suffixes like '-ATE' or '-IFY' can sometimes hint at longer answers.