1. to make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe without curing it
Usage: medical context
2. to make (something bad) seem less serious or offensive

Examples

• The medication palliates the pain but doesn’t cure the underlying condition.
• Physical therapy palliates her arthritis symptoms.
• The new treatment palliates the side effects of chemotherapy.
• He palliates his mistakes by blaming others.
• The politician palliates the scandal with vague explanations.
• Nothing palliates the severity of his actions.
• The doctor palliates terminal patients’ suffering with morphine.