The word palliate means to reduce the severity or intensity of pain, suffering, or a problem without necessarily removing the underlying cause. It is often used in medical contexts, where treatments palliate symptoms rather than cure diseases. Metaphorically, it can also mean to moderate or soothe difficult situations, or to make something appear less serious or severe.
Ten Sentences Using “Palliate”
- The doctor prescribed medication to palliate the patient’s chronic pain.
- Efforts to palliate the economic crisis offered temporary relief but no long-term solutions.
- A warm compress can palliate muscle stiffness after a workout.
- The nurse’s kind words did much to palliate the patient’s anxiety before surgery.
- The government introduced short-term policies to palliate public unrest.
- Though it won’t cure the condition, this treatment can palliate the symptoms significantly.
- The therapist provided strategies to palliate the emotional distress caused by grief.
- Ice packs are often used to palliate swelling and discomfort after an injury.
- The manager tried to palliate employee frustrations with promises of future improvements.
- While the speech didn’t solve the issue, it helped to palliate concerns among the audience.
Synonyms for “Palliate”
- Alleviate
- Ease
- Mitigate
- Relieve
- Soothe
- Lessen
- Diminish
- Assuage
- Temper
- Moderate
Antonyms for “Palliate”
- Aggravate
- Worsen
- Exacerbate
- Intensify
- Heighten
- Amplify
- Magnify
- Escalate
- Complicate
- Inflame
Phrasal Verbs for “Palliate”
- Ease off (to gradually reduce or palliate pressure or pain)
- Take the edge off (to lessen the severity of something, like pain or tension)
- Smooth over (to palliate or reduce conflict or unpleasant situations)
- Tone down (to soften or palliate harshness or severity)
- Soften up (to palliate feelings or the intensity of an issue)
- Ease up on (to reduce pressure, strain, or difficulty for someone)
Idiomatic Expressions for “Palliate”
- Take the sting out of: To palliate or lessen the harshness of an experience.
- A balm to the soul: Something that soothes and palliates emotional or physical pain.
- Sugarcoat the pill: To make something unpleasant more tolerable, thus palliate it.
- Take the heat off: To palliate pressure or blame directed at someone.
- Pour oil on troubled waters: To palliate or calm a tense or volatile situation.
- Take the bite out of: To reduce the severity or harshness of something painful or difficult.
- Smooth ruffled feathers: To palliate hurt feelings or resolve a tense situation.
