Synonyms of pacify

pacify

verb

ˈpa-sə-ˌfī 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appease
• placate
• soothe
• mollify
• calm
• comfort
• propitiate
• please
• conciliate
• disarm
• assuage
• satisfy
• console
• gentle
• ingratiate
• tranquilize
• delight
• quiet
• gratify
• satiate
• content
• coax
• gladden
• endear (to)
• cajole
• indulge
• hush
• sate
• flatter
• quench
• baby
• cater (to)
• wheedle
• pamper
• spoil
• humor
• coddle
• sweeten
• soft-soap
• overpraise
• sweet-talk
• adulate
• mollycoddle
• blandish
• dulcify
• blarney

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• anger
• inflame
• infuriate
• antagonize
• enrage
• annoy
• outrage
• aggravate
• irritate
• get
• rile
• provoke
• rouse
• exasperate
• bother
• vex
• ire
• put out
• cross
• burn (up)
• irk
• rankle
• bug
• pique
• ruffle
• harass
• chafe
• grate
• gall
• disturb
• upset
• persecute
• agitate
• pester
• distress
• roil
• incense
• worry
• discomfort
• madden
• perturb
• unsettle
• offend
• harry
• insult
• slight
• nettle
• fret
• peeve
• affront
• unhinge

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subdue
• dominate
• conquer
• subject
• defeat
• overcome
• subjugate
• enslave
• vanquish
• subordinate
• reduce
• overpower
• crush
• quell
• beat
• annihilate
• suppress
• smash
• lick
• whip
• mow (down)
• repress
• prevail (over)
• rout
• quash
• triumph (over)
• thrash
• trounce
• clobber
• smother
• silence
• squelch
• drub
• wallop
• squash
• put down
• snuff (out)
• crack down (on)
• break
• skunk
• clamp down (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liberate
• emancipate
• release
• enfranchise
• discharge
• free
• spring
• manumit
• unbind
• unchain
• unfetter
• uncage

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

Recent Examples of pacify

The Indonesian government therefore declared that East Timor had been pacified. — Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026

Leo has acknowledged the tensions and sought to pacify the debate, expressing an openness to dialogue and allowing exceptions to Francis’ crackdown. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026

But Syria, a regime still trying to get its legs under it, is not going to march next door and pacify Lebanon—especially not with Israel occupying parts of Syria. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

And under President Barack Obama, who was all talk and no action, Iran got rich selling sanction-less oil to China even as Obama sent planeloads of cash to pacify Iran. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

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