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reconcile

verb
rec·​on·​cile | \ ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l How to pronounce reconcile (audio) \
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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Other Words from reconcile

reconcilability \ ˌre-​kən-​ˌsī-​lə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce reconcilability (audio) \ noun
reconcilable \ ˌre-​kən-​ˈsī-​lə-​bəl How to pronounce reconcilable (audio) , ˈre-​kən-​ˌsī-​ \ adjective
reconcilement \ ˈre-​kən-​ˌsī(-​ə)l-​mənt How to pronounce reconcilement (audio) \ noun
reconciler noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for reconcile

Synonyms

accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, key

Antonyms

disharmonize

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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
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Recent Examples on the Web

 And perhaps the good monetary tidings will hurry along the negotiations between the chambers, which have both passed versions of a state spending plan but have not yet been able to reconcile them. — Joshua Miller, BostonGlobe.com, "State lands tax windfall: $1.2 billion more than expected," 6 July 2018 The Obama administration tried to reconcile this verdict with a new water policy in 2015 called Waters of the United States. — Kurtis Alexander, SFChronicle.com, "Progress on environment could slow on Supreme Court without Kennedy," 29 June 2018 Per Us Weekly, the pair has reconciled after being apart for a month. — Hilary Weaver, Vanities, "Nikki Bella and John Cena’s Short-Lived, Tabloid-Friendly Breakup Is Over," 1 June 2018 The heroine is quick to assimilate, better than Imed, who struggles to reconcile his patriarchal African upbringing with his attraction to both Western culture and the two women. — Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader, "History repeats itself over and over again at the African Diaspora Film Festival," 8 June 2018 Ultimately, the House and Senate measures will have to be reconciled into a single bill. — Jeffrey Mervis, Science | AAAS, "House spending bill could brighten prospects for two giant telescopes," 11 May 2018 To become law, the package would need to be reconciled with legislation that passed the House of Representatives in June. — Natalie Andrews, WSJ, "Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Opioid Epidemic," 17 Sep. 2018 How can the Standard Model be reconciled with gravity? — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Physicists report electron is round—what does that mean?," 7 Nov. 2018 Joy also must reconcile Ruby’s stubborn determination to be in control of everything, including the town’s legendary baking competition known as the Cookie Crawl. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "10 TV Shows and Movies to Watch in Between Your Halloween Shenanigans," 28 Oct. 2018

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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First Known Use of reconcile

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

History and Etymology for reconcile

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

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Statistics for reconcile

Last Updated

22 Mar 2019

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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
How to pronounce reconcile (audio)

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 How to pronounce reconcile (audio) \
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 How to pronounce reconcile (audio) \
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

Other Words from reconcile

reconcilability \ ˌre-​kən-​ˌsī-​lə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce reconcilability (audio) \ noun
reconcilable \ ˌre-​kən-​ˈsī-​lə-​bəl How to pronounce reconcilable (audio) \ adjective
reconcilement noun
reconciliation \ ˌre-​kən-​ˌsi-​lē-​ˈā-​shən How to pronounce reconciliation (audio) \ noun

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More from Merriam-Webster on reconcile

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with reconcile

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reconcile

Spanish Central: Translation of reconcile

Nglish: Translation of reconcile for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reconcile for Arabic Speakers

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