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beschwichtigen

to placate

verb be-SHVIKH-ti-gen Less Common
Communication Speech

Also means

to soothe with words

Usage Note

beschwichtigen means to calm or appease someone with reassuring words: die Gemüter beschwichtigen. It is transitive and often used in political contexts where worries are downplayed. The noun Beschwichtigung names such appeasement or reassurance.

Examples

"Der Sprecher versuchte, die aufgebrachte Menge zu beschwichtigen."

Natural Translation

The spokesman tried to placate the agitated crowd.

Literal Translation

The spokesman tried, the agitated crowd to placate.

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