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 tranquility; quiet; calm: to pacify an irate customer.

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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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

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

Words nearby pacify

Pacific tree frog, pacifier, pacifism, pacifist, pacifistic, pacify, pacing, Pacinian corpuscle, Pacino, pack, packable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pacify in a sentence

So in 1926, Mayer enlisted folks from across the industry to create the academy, designed to pacify labor issues outside of a union system, as well as to promote a positive view of Hollywood to the public.
Why do the Oscars matter?|Sonia Rao|April 16, 2021|Washington Post
Pastries couldn’t pacify them despite chants of “we are hungry!”
Will Amazon’s Union Change the World?|Daniel Malloy|April 1, 2021|Ozy
The Texans are a mess, and they can’t pacify Watson with a ton of money and a few compliments.
Deshaun Watson is taking a stand against disingenuous NFL owners. It could change the league.|Jerry Brewer|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
“All those wise sayings he's credited with, like 'the social rumble ain't restful' and 'if your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts,' well, I'd say most of them are actually true,” said Veeck.
Satchel Paige was one of baseball’s best. It didn’t take an announcement to know that.|Thomas M. Boswell|December 18, 2020|Washington Post

Less than 24 hours after Duron was ejected from the game that seemingly actualized that dream, Cruz tried to pacify his frustrations by focusing on the relationships he built during his football career.
After one player’s assault of a referee, a Texas high school team wonders why it was sidelined|Glynn A. Hill|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
His keepers fed the beast copious amounts of port, Champagne, and whiskey to pacify the persnickety pachyderm.
Zebra Finches, Dolphins, Elephants, and More Animals Under the Influence|Bill Schulz|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nevertheless, Iran can only go so far to pacify Iraq with its own forces.
Iran Is the Biggest Loser in Iraq|Aki Peritz|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Consequently, it might be necessary in some situations to pacify or motivate them with a lie.
Why Jimmy Kimmel’s Lies Matter|Sam Harris|November 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Yet would we nod approvingly if President Bush blamed the failure of U.S. efforts to pacify post-invasion Iraq on Saddam Hussein?
Who Needs an Oil Spill Czar?|Reihan Salam|May 29, 2010|DAILY BEAST
To pacify the ulema, always wary of any rival forum, this initial gathering consisted entirely of men who were clerics.
The Saudi Kingdom's 9/11|Robert Lacey|October 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The king hoped, by the appointment of a Republican ministry, to pacify the democratic spirit.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
No, I shall not seek to pacify the people, when the insolent challenge shall have been thrown in their faces!
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman|Eugne Sue
They then teach them to obey; some by words; others they pacify by tunes, accompanied with the beating of a drum.
The Geography of Strabo, Volume III (of 3)|Strabo
Pitt hoped to pacify discontent by benefiting Irish trade, and to unite the two countries by a community of interest.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
The fool carried a dagger at his girdle, and it were well to pacify him.
The Proud Prince|Justin Huntly McCarthy

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 nearby 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