1
as in to appease
to lessen the anger or agitation of
the only thing that would pacify the child and end the tantrum was a new toy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
additional ground forces were needed to occupy those areas that had already been pacified
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacify
If Chong is an excessive groomer, he might be stressed out and grooming to pacify himself.
—
Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Netanyahu’s video statement appeared aimed at pacifying anger in his nationalist base at the decision to resume aid.
—Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Abigail’s 2-year-old brother and two of her own children, who were also under the age of 5 — and had pacified the older kids with iPads and Abigail with the drug, the Star-Advertiser previously noted.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 12 May 2025
Hopefully Grammer can figure out a way to pacify his neighbors — perhaps an open invitation to the games room.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Joan Morris, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Netanyahu’s video statement appeared aimed at pacifying anger in his nationalist base at the decision to resume aid.
—Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Abigail’s 2-year-old brother and two of her own children, who were also under the age of 5 — and had pacified the older kids with iPads and Abigail with the drug, the Star-Advertiser previously noted.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 12 May 2025
Hopefully Grammer can figure out a way to pacify his neighbors — perhaps an open invitation to the games room.
—Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
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Our theory at the time was that Boeing planes would be leveraged as countries sought to reduce trade deficits with the U.S. to appease Trump.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
27 June 2025
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As long as the far-left is determining their party’s agenda, Democrats will continue to bleed support as more and more Americans reject not only its radicalism but its inability to distinguish between right and wrong and its inclination to appease evil.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Many of these women, though seemingly silent or subdued, speak volumes through their emotions and inner turmoil.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 June 2025
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The overall market reaction to the attacks between the longtime regional foes has, admittedly, been fairly subdued since the strikes began late Thursday local time in New York.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The right hemisphere of the brain dominates in spatial attention, while the right amygdala is dominant for processing threats.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
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The early adopter was Montgomery Ward, but Sears and Roebuck—the Amazon and Walmart of their day—would soon dominate the business.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
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In an improbable turn of events on the back nine on Sunday, JJ Spaun conquered Oakmont to win the U.S. Open by two shots over Robert MacIntyre.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
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Something Beautiful Wins on Vinyl Something Beautiful does manage to conquer the Vinyl Albums chart, earning Cyrus her third winner on that format-specific list.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Hwang loudly calls out the flaw of democracy that allows the barest of majorities to subject all to nightmarish policies — even more nightmarish for those who voted against them.—
Michael Ordoña,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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Congress passed the law that led to its creation based on its power under the Constitution’s spending clause, which allows Congress to subject federal funds to certain requirements.—
Naomi Cahn,
The Conversation,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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