pacify

[ pas-uh-fahy ]

/ ˈpæs əˌfaɪ /

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See synonyms for: pacify / pacified / pacifies on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), pac·i·fied, pac·i·fy·ing.

to bring or restore to a state of peace or tranquillity; quiet; calm: to pacify an angry man.

to appease: to pacify one's appetite.

to reduce to a state of submission, especially by military force; subdue.

OTHER WORDS FOR pacify

2 soothe, mollify, assuage.

See synonyms for pacify on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR pacify

2 anger, enrage.

See antonyms for pacify on Thesaurus.com

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have

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Origin of pacify

1425–75; late Middle English <Latin pācificāre to make peace. See pacific, -fy

OTHER WORDS FROM pacify

pac·i·fi·a·ble, adjectivepac·i·fy·ing·ly, adverbnon·pac·i·fi·a·ble, adjectivere·pac·i·fy, verb (used with object), re·pac·i·fied, re·pac·i·fy·ing.

un·pac·i·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·pac·i·fied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use pacify in a sentence

I was skeptical to believe the hype of such studies, but I couldn’t deny that being in nature is a pacifying experience I cherish.
Are We Wired to Be Outside? - Issue 92: Frontiers|Grigori Guitchounts|November 11, 2020|Nautilus
At present, it looks unlikely that these two organizations are going to be so easily pacified.
The South African "Made In" Fight|Kevin Bloom|October 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Through lack of them a considerable number of those already pacified and who pay tribute remain to be converted.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Scarcely was Genoa pacified when the general was confronted by a much more serious event.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

The observation passed momentarily unnoticed, for Maude, whom Lady Hartledon had been obliged to release, would not be pacified.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Their rising was not accompanied by the cruelties which disgraced Whiteboyism, and was speedily pacified.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
But the avenging wrath of the male was not so easily pacified.
The Watchers of the Trails|Charles G. D. Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for pacify

pacify

/ (ˈpæsɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to calm the anger or agitation of; mollify

to restore to peace or order, esp by the threat or use of force

Derived forms of pacify

pacifiable, adjective

Word Origin for pacify

C15: from Old French pacifier; see pacific

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pacify

OTHER WORDS FOR pacify

OPPOSITES FOR pacify

Origin of pacify

OTHER WORDS FROM pacify

Words related to pacify

How to use pacify in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pacify

Derived forms of pacify

Word Origin for pacify