tranquilize

verb

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tran·quil·ize | \ ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz

, ˈtran- \

variants: or less commonly tranquillize

tranquilized also tranquillized; tranquilizing also tranquillizing

Definition of tranquilize

transitive verb

: to make tranquil or calm : pacify especially : to relieve of mental tension and anxiety by means of drugs

intransitive verb

1 : to become tranquil : relax sense 1

2 : to make one tranquil

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More About tranquilize

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Synonyms & Antonyms for tranquilize

Synonyms

becalm,
calm,
compose,
lull,
lullaby,
quiet,
quieten
[chiefly British],
salve,
settle,
soothe,
still

Antonyms

Examples of tranquilize in a Sentence

They tranquilized the bear with a dart so that it could be safely moved to a different area. at long last the crying baby was tranquilized by the steady rocking of her cradle

Recent Examples on the Web In spring, bears in the wild may be weighed by biologists who fly in via helicopter, tranquilize the bear, push it into a net, and lift it via a pulley system. — Rachel Metz, CNN, 2 Oct. 2021 Alfaro said agents from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were in Monrovia and would try to tranquilize and relocate the animal. — Jake Sheridan, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials were able to tranquilize the bear, then discovered the animal's feet were burned. — Fox News, 18 June 2020 The decision to shoot the cat rather than tranquilize the animal was made because of a lack of proper equipment to keep the situation safe, according to WBNS-10TV. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE.com, 17 Oct. 2019 But this comment got Chahl thinking: many animals do bite, which is why researchers and veterinarians often trap or tranquilize them before recording their vital signs. — Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2020 Other popular suggestions included tranquilizing the tigers which wasn’t a practical solution from a biology stand point, Burford said. — Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, 26 Nov. 2019 Roy Smith and Officer Jeff Roberson of the TWRA quickly tranquilized the bear, the agency said. — Alaa Elassar, CNN, 29 Dec. 2019 That’s what researchers believe happened in November 2017 when a mountain lion was cornered and tranquilized at a housing complex in the Diamond Heights area of San Francisco. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, 20 Sep. 2019

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