reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l 

reconciled; reconciling

transitive verb

1

a

: to restore to friendship or harmony

reconciled the factions

b

: settle, resolve

reconcile differences

2

: to make consistent or congruous

reconcile an ideal with reality

3

: to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant

was reconciled to hardship

4

a

: to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy

b

: to account for

intransitive verb

: to become reconciled

reconcilability

ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

reconcilable

ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

ˈre-kən-ˌsī-

adjective

reconcilement

ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l-mənt 

noun

reconciler noun

Synonyms

• accommodate
• attune
• conciliate
• conform
• coordinate
• harmonize
• key

Choose the Right Synonym for reconcile

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another.

adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.

adapted themselves to the warmer climate

adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.

adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.

businesses accommodating themselves to the new political reality

conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.

refused to conform to society's values

reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.

tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

Example Sentences

She and Eddie had separated and reconciled so many times the children had lost track of whose clothes were where. —John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995

He thought they might reconcile the Parisians to his daring design by reminding them of the familiar arches of their bridges. —Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up, 1990

By exposing the comic-pathetic quality of the human condition, it temporarily reconciles us to that condition without creating in us complacence, lethargy, or any negative emotion. —Clifton Fadiman, Center Magazine, January-February 1971

It is a function of architecture to reconcile technology with human cussedness, to make the mechanics of life endurable … —Russell Lynes, Harper's, October 1968

It can be difficult to reconcile your ideals with reality.

historians have never been able to reconcile the two eyewitness accounts of the battle

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Recent Examples on the Web

The power to pick conference committee members who reconcile competing versions of a bill between the House and Senate and the power to remove committee chairs or. —Laura Johnston, cleveland, 20 Jan. 2023

But a source did speak to People on January 11 about how Scott and Jenner will likely reconcile at some point, even if their relationship has always been turbulent. —Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 18 Jan. 2023

Now, the attention turns to how the U.S.—and its partners and competitors—reconcile climate and trade considerations. —Justin Worland, Time, 16 Jan. 2023

Now, his name is added to the uncomfortably long list of rappers whose voices were silenced before their time, while his friends and family are forced to reconcile with another loss in a year filled with too much grief. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2021

In the latter, his English Pakistani rapper is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that forces him to reconcile long-brewing issues within his family. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2021

Powered by impressive performances by Beanie Feldstein, Sarah Paulson, and Annaleigh Ashford, the show forces viewers to reconcile with events that transpired and the parts we, as Americans, played in it. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2021

Once she was accepted into USC, Lang had to reconcile with the fact that there were no all-Black dance teams that practiced majorette dance style. —Brooklyn White, Essence, 21 Sep. 2022

The chambers will now have to reconcile differences between the two versions of the legislation. —Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 13 July 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reconciler, from Latin reconciliare, from re- + conciliare to conciliate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing reconcile

• reconcile to

• reconcile to

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Kids Definition

reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl 

reconciled; reconciling

1

: to make friendly again

reconcile friends who have quarreled

2

: to settle by agreement : adjust

reconcile differences

3

: to make agree

a story that cannot be reconciled with the facts

4

: to cause to give in or to accept : make content

reconciled myself to the loss

reconcilable

ˌrek-ən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl-

adjective

reconcilement

ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl-mənt 

noun

reconciler noun

reconciliation

ˌrek-ən-ˌsil-ē-ˈā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈre-kən-ˌsīl 

reconciled; reconciling

transitive verb

1

a

: to restore to harmony

reconciled the parties

reconciled the marriage

b

: to bring to resolution

reconcile differences

2

a

: to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy

b

: to account for

intransitive verb

: to become reconciled

specifically : to voluntarily resume cohabitation as spouses prior to a divorce becoming final with the mutual intention of remaining together and reestablishing a harmonious relationship

denied the complaint for divorce because the parties had reconciled

reconcilability

ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

reconcilable

ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

adjective

reconcilement noun

reconciliation

ˌre-kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən 

noun