pacify

American  

[pas-uh-fahy] / ˈpæs əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

pacified, pacifying

1. to bring or restore to a state of peace or tranquility; quiet; calm.

   to pacify an irate customer.

2. to appease.

   to pacify one's appetite.

   Synonyms:

   assuage, mollify, soothe

   Antonyms:

   enrage, anger

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

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pacify British  

/ ˈpæsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to calm the anger or agitation of; mollify

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonpacifiable adjective
• pacifiable adjective
• pacifyingly adverb
• repacify verb (used with object)
• unpacifiable adjective
• unpacified adjective

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”; pacific, -fy

Example Sentences

"The population are demanding that our team extend and go to other places and pacify," he says.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2024

We are easier to marginalize and to pacify if we fold ourselves into such tiny boxes.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024

A Kenyan court blocked a U.N.-backed plan to deploy the country’s officers to help pacify violence on Haiti’s streets.

From New York Times • Jan. 28, 2024

The celebration lasted for half an hour before they realized this was just a piece of wishful thinking someone had spread around to pacify them.

From Slate • Nov. 29, 2023

I, in any case, certainly refuse to be put in the position of denying the truth of Malcolm’s statements simply because I disagree with his conclusions, or in order to pacify the liberal conscience.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin

Related Words

• allay
• ameliorate
• assuage
• mitigate
• mollify
• placate
• quell
• repress
• smooth over
• soothe
• tame