1. made (a disease or its symptoms) less severe without curing it
Usage: medical
2. made (something bad) seem less serious or offensive by offering excuses
Usage: formal

Examples

• The medication palliated her chronic pain but didn’t eliminate it completely.
• Hospice care palliated the patient’s suffering in his final weeks.
• The politician palliated his controversial remarks with a carefully worded apology.
• The company palliated the environmental damage by funding cleanup efforts.
• Pain relievers only palliated the symptoms without addressing the underlying condition.
• His explanation palliated the severity of his mistake but didn’t excuse it entirely.