pacify

pac·i·fy

transitive verb \ˈpa-sə-ˌfī\

pac·i·fiedpac·i·fy·ing

Definition of PACIFY

1

a : to allay the anger or agitation of : soothe <pacify a crying child>

b : appease, propitiate

2

a : to restore to a tranquil state : settle <made an attempt to pacify the commotion>

b : to reduce to a submissive state : subdue <forces moved in to pacify the country>

— pac·i·fi·able \ˌpa-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of PACIFY

1. She resigned from her position to pacify her accusers.
2. Their efforts to pacify the nation by force failed.
3. trying to pacify a mob of protesters

Origin of PACIFY

Middle English pacifien, from Anglo-French pacifier, from Latin pacificare, from pac-, pax peace

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PACIFY

Synonyms

appease, assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, placate, propitiate

Antonyms

anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

Related Words

calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize); endear (to), ingratiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please; adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; quench, sate, satiate, satisfy; cater (to), humor, indulge; blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle; baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; dulcify, sweeten

Near Antonyms

aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex; provoke, rouse; harass, harry, persecute, pester; agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, offend, slight

Synonym Discussion of PACIFY

pacify, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of. pacify suggests a soothing or calming <pacified by a sincere apology>. appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions <appease their territorial ambitions>. placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill <a move to placate local opposition>. mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger <a speech that mollified the demonstrators>. propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being <propitiated his parents by dressing up>. conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences <conciliating the belligerent nations>.