pacify

verb

pac·​i·​fy ˈpa-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce pacify (audio)
pacified; pacifying

transitive verb

1
a
: to allay the anger or agitation of : soothe
pacify a crying child
b
: appease, propitiate
tried to pacify the enemy with compromises
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
pacifiable adjective

Did you know?

Pacify is the oldest of a set of soothing words that floated into English on the buoy of Latin pac- or pax, meaning “peace.” It arrived in the 15th century, and was followed by pacifier and pacific in the subsequent century. These words and other pac-/pax relations have proven useful. While 16th century pacifiers soothed and subdued in general ways, by the turn of the 20th century pacifier was being used with a new meaning referring specifically to a device for a baby to suck on. Also dating to around the turn of the 20th century are pacifist and pacifism. Pay also comes ultimately from this root (by way of Latin pacare, meaning “to pacify”), as does the gentlest of this lexical family, the word peace itself.

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of pacify in a Sentence

She resigned from her position to pacify her accusers. Their efforts to pacify the nation by force failed. trying to pacify a mob of protesters
Recent Examples on the Web Entries include the belief that concessions on energy and arms control would pacify Vladimir Putin; pandering to the United Nations and the Palestinian Authority and Iran; and calling for cuts to defense spending as global risks multiplied. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 21 Sep. 2024 But he was repeatedly rebuffed, in part because of the Russian military’s poor human rights record, particularly in Chechnya, which Putin pacified by destroying its capital, Grozny. Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024 Combs would not have access to a cell phone or Internet, and there would be a pre-approved visitor log to provide to the court, pacifying the worry of witness intimidation. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024 Tens of thousands of Israelis have left their homes in the north of the country amid the fighting, with Israeli leaders repeatedly threatening a significant military operation to pacify Hezbollah forces operating in southern Lebanon. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pacify 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pacify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of pacify was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near pacify

Cite this Entry

“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pacify. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

pacify

verb
pac·​i·​fy ˈpas-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce pacify (audio)
pacified; pacifying
1
: to make peaceful or quiet
pacify a crying child
2
: to restore to a peaceful state : settle, subdue
sent troops to pacify the country
pacification
ˌpas-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun
Etymology

Middle English pacifien "to soothe the anger or disturbance of, make peaceful," from Latin pacificare (same meaning), from pac-, pax "peace" — related to appease, peace

More from Merriam-Webster on pacify

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