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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pacify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pacify are appease, conciliate, mollify, placate, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

Where would appease be a reasonable alternative to pacify?

The words appease and pacify can be used in similar contexts, but appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

When is conciliate a more appropriate choice than pacify?

The meanings of conciliate and pacify largely overlap; however, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When could mollify be used to replace pacify?

The words mollify and pacify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When might placate be a better fit than pacify?

In some situations, the words placate and pacify are roughly equivalent. However, placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When is it sensible to use propitiate instead of pacify?

Although the words propitiate and pacify have much in common, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pacify The Globetrotters paid me some extra money to keep him pacified with his singing. David Aldridge, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 2025 Carmichael criticized Christianity for pacifying the oppressed by focusing on suffering and salvation in the afterlife rather than justice in the present. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025 It was deployed to pacify the stronghold of the Zetas cartel, but operated indiscriminately and with impunity. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025 Like every Starbucks, this one has tables and chairs and coffee and pastries and a pacifying sort of vibe. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pacify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
  • Just as the elites proved weak, so too did the international order, as shown by the number of countries eager to appease or function as if all is normal.
    Robert Williams, Time, 24 Apr. 2025
  • No, De Bruyne will probably end up at a club looking for a quick one-year fix, with an owner who is happy to make a high-earning vanity signing in an attempt to distract and appease long-suffering supporters after yet another poor season.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Check out these suggestions, each of which, if multiplied by others, can help subdue climate change: Choose airlines that offer carbon offset programs.
    Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The end, at 7:35 a.m., Monday was subdued and pain-free.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The memory unit sits close to a CPU or GPU, to conquer latency and provide high bandwidth with low power consumption.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Strawberry Lemonade Any cook can conquer these fresh, celebratory recipes.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While their presence pushes younger competitors to work even harder for wins, bigger racing teams just have elite equipment that can easily allow one car to dominate, the owner explained on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 19 Apr. 2025
  • This proposal, led by organizations such as the American Beverage Licensees (ABL), raises important questions about whether alcohol retailers should be allowed to dominate cannabis sales.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But the administration hasn’t yet subjected any other state to Maine-level scrutiny.
    Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Vietnam’s $123 billion trade surplus with the United States—the second highest in Asia after China and the highest in Southeast Asia—has subjected it to high tariffs.
    Lynn Kuok, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trailing 0-2, the Heat now faces a series deficit that not many NBA teams have overcome.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Not without its controversy, like life, the show has tried to demonstrate that family can overcome anything with love, laughter, and conversation.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • In Brazil’s 2023 Presidential election, Lula da Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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