Conciliatory

Adjective

Definition: Intended to make peace or soothe; tending to reconcile or placate.

Synonyms: Reconciling, Soothing, Comforting, Mollifying

Antonyms: Confrontational, Antagonistic, Hostile

Examples:
  • The CEO's conciliatory speech helped resolve the labor dispute.
  • She adopted a conciliatory tone in her email to defuse the argument.
Mnemonics:
  • Think of "conciliation" as the act of bringing peace, and "conciliatory" as the adjective form.

Etymology:

Origin:

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:

Idiom:

"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:

Misconception:

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.

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