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reconcile

verb rec·on·cile \ ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l \
|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of reconcile

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

play \ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
—

reconcilable

play \ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl, ˈre-kən-ˌsī-\ adjective
—

reconcilement

play \ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun
—

reconciler

noun

See reconcile defined for English-language learners

See reconcile defined for kids

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Examples of reconcile in a Sentence

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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

  5. It can be difficult to reconcile your ideals with reality.

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

Recent Examples of reconcile from the Web

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.

Origin and Etymology of reconcile

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

reconcile Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

disharmonize;

Near Antonyms

confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset;

alienate, estrange;

Related Words

adapt, tune;

blend, combine, connect, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, orchestrate, pair, square, suit, synchronize, synthesize, unify, unite;

align (also aline), arrange, array, balance, equalize, even, order, proportion, regularize, standardize;

Synonym Discussion of 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

Phrases Related to RECONCILE

Related Phrases

RECONCILE Defined for English Language Learners

reconcile

verb

Definition of reconcile for English Language Learners

  • : 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

RECONCILE Defined for Kids

reconcile

verb rec·on·cile \ ˈre-kən-ˌsīl \

Definition of reconcile for Students

reconciled; reconciling
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.

Law Dictionary

reconcile

verb rec·on·cile \ ˈre-kən-ˌsīl \

legal Definition of reconcile

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

play \ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
—

reconcilable

play \ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl\ adjective
—

reconcilement

noun
—

reconciliation

play \ˌre-kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən\ noun

Learn More about reconcile

  1. See 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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