reconcile

verb

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rec·on·cile | \ ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l

reconciled; reconciling

Definition of reconcile

transitive verb

1a : 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

4a : to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy

b : to account for

intransitive verb

: to become reconciled

Other Words from reconcile Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about reconcile

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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. accommodated his political beliefs in order to win 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

Examples of reconcile in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web Detours into the efforts of firms attempting to produce their goods through gentler methods offer a glimpse into how consumerism, slowed to a less ferocious pace, might be reconciled with sustainability. — Patrick Radden Keefe, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 17 Sep. 2019 Three inept robbers pull heists, then argue, split and reconcile in suburban Dallas. — Los Angeles Times, "Movies on TV this week Sept. 15, 2019: ‘Alien,’ ‘Aliens’ and more," 13 Sep. 2019 Other candidates in the race include Rahmatullah Nabil, a former intelligence chief and a strong critic of the current government, and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former militant who reconciled with the government in 2017. — Mujib Mashal, New York Times, "In Trump’s Taliban Snub, a Shift of Fortune for Afghanistan’s President," 10 Sep. 2019 After Bryce's death, Nora also visits the place where Bryce died with flowers, presumably in order to properly say goodbye and reconcile her troubled relationship with her son. — Jasmine Gomez, Seventeen, "Here's How Season 3 Ended for Every Character in "13 Reasons Why"," 28 Aug. 2019 Chief personal struggle involves Fox reconciling the worth of his gentle yet unstarlike self with the more exciting persona of the wolf aspect of him. — Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Teen Wolf': THR's 1985 Review," 23 Aug. 2019 The Barris’s previously filed or divorce in 2014, but the two reconciled and withdrew the filing in 2015. — Jasmine Grant, Essence, "'Black-ish' Creator Kenya Barris and His Wife Raina Barris Headed For Divorce," 13 Aug. 2019 Yes, our country needs a uniting history, one that fully reconciles the past, grapples with the present, and lights our way into the future. — Grayson Logue, National Review, "A Nation without a Chest," 10 Aug. 2019 During their road trip, Serena and Fred really seem to be reconciling and becoming intimate with each other again. — Emma Dibdin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Yvonne Strahovski on Serena's Long-Awaited Betrayal of Fred in The Handmaid's Tale," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reconcile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

1 Nov 2019

Time Traveler for reconcile

The first known use of reconcile was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for reconcile

reconcile

verb

English Language Learners Definition of reconcile

formal

: to find a way of making (two different ideas, facts, etc.) exist or be true at the same time

: to cause people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement

See the full definition for reconcile in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reconcile

verb

rec·on·cile | \ ˈre-kən-ˌsīl

reconciled; reconciling

Kids Definition of reconcile

1 : to make friendly again She helped to reconcile friends who had been quarreling.

2 : to settle by agreement : adjust You'll have to reconcile your differences.

3 : to make agree His story cannot be reconciled with the facts.

4 : to cause to give in or accept I reconciled myself to the loss.

reconcile

verb

rec·on·cile | \ ˈre-kən-ˌsīl

reconciled; reconciling

Legal Definition of reconcile

transitive verb

1a : to restore to harmony reconciled the parties reconciled the marriage

b : to bring to resolution reconcile differences

2a : 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