Conciliatory
Adjective
Definition: Intended to make peace or soothe; tending to reconcile or placate.
Synonyms: Reconciling, Soothing, Comforting, Mollifying
Antonyms: Confrontational, Antagonistic, Hostile
- The CEO's conciliatory speech helped resolve the labor dispute.
- She adopted a conciliatory tone in her email to defuse the argument.
- Think of "conciliation" as the act of bringing peace, and "conciliatory" as the adjective form.
Etymology:
The word "conciliatory" comes from the Latin word "conciliare", meaning "to unite, bring together, make friendly".
Historical Usage:The term "conciliatory" has been used since the 18th century to describe actions or statements aimed at appeasing conflicts or promoting reconciliation.
Related Idioms:
"Take a conciliatory approach"
Explanation:Refers to adopting a mindset or behavior that seeks to resolve conflicts or differences in a peaceful and compromising manner.
Misconceptions:
Confusing "conciliatory" with other similar words like "condescending" or "complimentary".
Explanation:While "conciliatory" implies a willingness to reconcile and promote peace, "condescending" has a negative connotation of patronizing or talking down to someone, and "complimentary" refers to expressing praise or admiration. These words have different meanings and should not be used interchangeably.