placability
Definition
- Noun:
- The quality of being easily calmed or appeased: "placability" refers to the state or disposition of being willing to forgive, to become peaceful, or to have one's anger or resentment soothed without difficulty.
Usage Examples
- (Her tendency to forgive easily and calm down quickly helped resolve conflicts.)
- (The king's readiness to be appeased was unexpected.)
- (The quality of being easily soothed can be misinterpreted.)
Advanced Usage
"to show placability": to demonstrate a forgiving or conciliatory attitude.
- The leader showed placability by accepting the apology without further demands. (He demonstrated a willingness to be appeased.)
"beyond placability": describing a state where someone is too angry or stubborn to be calmed.
- After the betrayal, his rage was beyond placability. (He could not be soothed or forgiven.)
Variants and Related Words
Placable (adj): capable of being appeased or pacified.
- A placable opponent is easier to negotiate with. (An opponent who can be calmed.)
Placate (verb): to make someone less angry or hostile.
- She tried to placate the crying child with a toy. (She attempted to calm the child.)
Implacable (adj): impossible to pacify or satisfy; relentless.
- The implacable enemy refused all peace offers. (The enemy could not be appeased.)
Synonyms
- Forgiveness: the act of letting go of resentment.
- Conciliation: the action of bringing peace or harmony.
- Mildness: gentleness and lack of severity.
Related Idioms
"Turn the other cheek": to choose not to retaliate or seek revenge.
- His placability was like turning the other cheek after the insult. (He forgave instead of retaliating.)
"To pour oil on troubled waters": to calm a tense or angry situation.
- Her placability helped pour oil on troubled waters during the argument. (Her calming nature soothed the conflict.)