conciliatory
gb/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi/ us/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
trying to end a conflict
trying to make people stop arguing and be friendly again
Schéma d’usage :
a conciliatory [tone/remark/gesture]
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with conciliating (a verb form); conciliatory is an adjective describing tone, words, or actions.
Synonymes
peaceable (suggests a calm, non-aggressive attitude.)
|
appeasing (can imply trying to reduce anger, sometimes by giving in.)
|
soothing (focuses on calming emotions.)
Antonymes
confrontational (likely to provoke argument rather than reduce it.)
|
hostile (showing strong unfriendliness or aggression.)
|
provocative (intended to cause anger or conflict.)
Collocations
conciliatory tone
|conciliatory gesture
|conciliatory remarks
|a conciliatory message
|a conciliatory statement
|a conciliatory response
|a conciliatory nod
|a conciliatory smile
|conciliatory language
|conciliatory words
Thèmes
communication
|emotions
|conflict
|relationships
Exemples
- She took a conciliatory tone and apologized for the misunderstanding.
- After the heated debate, he sent a conciliatory email to the whole team.
- The minister made a conciliatory statement aimed at easing tensions.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He spoke in a conciliatory voice.
- Her message was conciliatory.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
willing to compromise to agree
ready to give up something to reach agreement
Schéma d’usage :
be conciliatory about [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Conciliatory does not necessarily mean 'agreeing'—it often means trying to reach agreement by being flexible.
Synonymes
flexible (highlights readiness to adjust rather than to calm emotions.)
|
accommodating (emphasizes meeting others' wishes.)
|
yielding (suggests giving way, sometimes reluctantly.)
Antonymes
inflexible (unwilling to change position or make concessions.)
|
hardline (strongly resistant to compromise.)
|
unyielding (refuses to give way in negotiation.)
Collocations
conciliatory stance
|conciliatory approach
|conciliatory attitude
|a conciliatory offer
|a conciliatory proposal
|a conciliatory move
|conciliatory measures
|more conciliatory
|a highly conciliatory position
|conciliatory in negotiations
Thèmes
negotiation
|business
|relationships
|conflict
Exemples
- The company adopted a more conciliatory stance to avoid a strike.
- Both sides sounded conciliatory and agreed to return to the table.
- He made a conciliatory offer, even though it cost him politically.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She was conciliatory during the meeting.
- They took a conciliatory approach.
adjective
formal
C2
property
3
relating to formal conciliation
connected to a process for making agreement
Schéma d’usage :
conciliatory [talks/process/committee]
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is less common in everyday speech; it is often used in institutional or legal contexts.
Synonymes
mediatory (emphasizes acting through mediation.)
|
arbitral (closer to arbitration; more formal and decision-focused.)
Antonymes
adversarial (structured as opposing sides competing, especially in law.)
Collocations
conciliatory talks
|conciliatory process
|conciliatory proceedings
|conciliatory meeting
|conciliatory committee
|conciliatory commission
Thèmes
law
|government
|negotiation
Exemples
- The dispute moved from litigation to a conciliatory process led by an independent chair.
- Conciliatory talks continued for several weeks before any agreement was reached.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
conciliatory
API
GB/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi/
US/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi/
Syllabes et accentuation
con - cili - at - ory (4 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cili)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: conciliatory
Famille de mots
Core family
Related words
reconcile
verb B2
reconciliation
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unconciliatory
adjective
irreconcilable
adjective
Expressions
conciliatory approach
1/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi əpɹˈoʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
formal
strategy focused on compromise
a way of acting that tries to compromise
Exemples
- They took a conciliatory approach to the dispute over schedules.
- A conciliatory approach can prevent small disagreements from escalating.
conciliatory gesture
1/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi d͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
action meant to make peace
an action to show you want peace
Exemples
- As a conciliatory gesture, she offered to cover the extra costs.
- The visit was seen as a conciliatory gesture after months of tension.
conciliatory remarks
1/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi ɹɪmˈɑɹks/
fixed phrase
formal
words intended to calm
words that try to stop a conflict
Exemples
- He opened the meeting with conciliatory remarks to ease the tension.
- Her conciliatory remarks were welcomed by both sides.
conciliatory tone
1/kənsˈɪlˌiətˌɔɹi tˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
formal
calming, peace-making manner
a calm way of speaking to stop an argument
Exemples
- He answered in a conciliatory tone, even though he disagreed.
- Her conciliatory tone helped the conversation move forward.