Word a Day
palliate
What does palliate mean?
palliate (verb): to cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offense etc.) by excuses and apologies.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where does palliate come from?
The verb was inherited from Middle English palliaten (“To palliate (a disease), relieve the symptoms of (a patient); to extenuate (an offense); to conceal, hide”), the adjective and participle from its participle palliat(e).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of palliate?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “palliate”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “palliate” mean?
to assume as a truthful or accurate premise or axiom, especially as a basis of an argument
Not quite: that's what postulate means.
to destroy (someone or something) completely, leaving no trace; to annihilate, to wipe out
Not quite: that's what obliterate means.
to compensate (someone) with payment; especially, to repay money spent on someone's behalf
Not quite: that's what reimburse means.
to cover or disguise the seriousness of (a mistake, offense etc.) by excuses and apologies
Right! That's what “palliate” means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “palliate”?
coincide
Not quite: coincide means something else.
postpone
Not quite: postpone means something else.
mitigate
Right!
diminish
Not quite: diminish means something else.
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