pacify
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to calm the anger or agitation of; mollify
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to restore to peace or order, esp by the threat or use of force
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unpacifiedadjective
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repacifyverb (used with object)
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unpacifiableadjective
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pacifyinglyadverb
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pacifiableadjective
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nonpacifiableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have pacifiedperfect
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has pacifiedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been pacifyingperfect progressive
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has been pacifyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am pacifyingprogressive 1st person singular
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pacifiessingular 3rd person
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is pacifyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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pacifyingparticiple
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are pacifyingprogressive
Past
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had pacifiedperfect
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pacifiedsimple
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pacifiedparticiple
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had been pacifyingperfect progressive
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were pacifyingprogressive plural
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was pacifyingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of pacify
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Old French pacef(i)ier, pacifier, from Latin pācificāre “to make peace”; see pacific, -fy
Explanation
If you are bringing peace or calm to a state of unrest, you are pacifying the situation. Just think of the transformation a squalling baby undergoes when a pacifier is placed within his mouth, and you will remember the power of the verb to pacify. If you work to establish peace in a certain location between factions at war, then you are working to pacify a country or region. The U.N. has specially trained workers, called peace keepers, who go into to trouble spots to try to pacify rebellions factions and restore order. Or, one can pacify a disgruntled crowd: "The store manager attempted to pacify the restless crowd of shoppers by promising the popular out-of-stock item would soon be back on the shelves."
Vocabulary lists containing pacify
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Power Suffix: -fy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There’s a mercenary quality to the more ostentatious looks; they please crowds or pacify them for long enough to compel closer listening to the intricacies of her music.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025
It starts with Lamar rapping quickly but calmly over a smooth-jazz backdrop, taunting, “I make music that electrify ’em, you make music that pacify ’em.”
From New York Times • May 3, 2024
He also accuses the Canadian star of selling out, saying he only makes music to "pacify" fans.
From BBC • May 1, 2024
The industry has previously tried to pacify the public and regulators with promises that never materialized, he said.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024
To pacify them, we let them try on the finished bangles.
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
