tranquilize

verb

tran·​quil·​ize ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz 

ˈtran-

variants or less commonly tranquillize

tranquilized also tranquillized; tranquilizing also tranquillizing

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

• calm

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

The compound is used to tranquilize wildlife and, the indictment noted, that Barry Morphew has admitted using those drugs to tranquilize deer. —Paul Larosa, CBS News, 3 July 2025

Police and fire crews responded alongside Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, who tranquilized the bear with a dart. —Katie Langford, Denver Post, 3 June 2025

Authorities eventually were able to tranquilize the bear and get it out of the tree. —Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025

After many days of surveillance and multiple sightings in wooded and residential areas, Ed was finally located and carefully tranquilized with a veterinarian's help before being airlifted to safety. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for tranquilize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

tranquilize

verb

tran·​quil·​ize

variants also tranquillize

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz 

ˈtran-

tranquilized also tranquillized; tranquilizing also tranquillizing

: to make or become tranquil or relaxed

especially : to ease the nervous tension and anxiety of usually by means of drugs

Medical Definition

tranquilize

transitive verb

tran·​quil·​ize

variants or chiefly British tranquillize or tranquillise

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz, ˈtran- 

tranquilized or chiefly British tranquilized or tranquilised; tranquilizing or chiefly British tranquilizing or tranquilising

: to make tranquil or calm

especially : to relieve of mental tension and anxiety by means of drugs

tranquilization noun

or chiefly British tranquillization or tranquillisation

ˌtraŋ-kwə-lə-ˈzā-shən, ˌtran-