WordWeb Online

1. Lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
   "The circumstances palliate the crime"
   - extenuate, mitigate
    
2. Provide physical relief, as from pain
   "This pill will palliate your headaches"
   - relieve, alleviate, assuage

Derived forms: palliated, palliates, palliating

See also: palliation, palliative

Type of: ameliorate, amend, apologise [Brit], apologize, better, excuse, improve, justify, meliorate, rationalise [Brit], rationalize