pacifying 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress a pacifying treat of milk and cookies

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2
as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility the referee adopted a pacifying tone to try to calm everyone down

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pacifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pacify
1
as in comforting
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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2
as in subduing
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

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 pacifying
Verb
Such tactics have never succeeded in pacifying Iranian society for long. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 That transformed the industry by giving it a clear American base — and by pacifying agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission that had been, under Biden, openly hostile. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Rather than unifying and pacifying a populace, this kind of media encouraged idiosyncratic, extreme views. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 8 Sep. 2025 And without the pacifying force of the Dalai Lama, there will be fewer guardrails to prevent Sino-Tibetan disputes from sliding into intractable ethnic conflict. — Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifying
  1. relaxing
  2. soothing
  3. appeasing
  4. subduing
  5. comforting
  6. conciliatory
  7. conquering
  8. calming
Adjective
  • The couple, along with their daughter Harper and their son Romeo, have been enjoying a relaxing trip around Europe this summer.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Starfish Manor Starfish Manor has everything grown-ups need for a relaxing, kid-free seaside stay, from Pacific-view rooms to beach access for romantic strolls on the sand.
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Adjective
  • Aloe and Centella asiatica lend soothing benefits, antioxidant-rich green tea defends against environmental stressors, and ceramides support the skin barrier.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Named after the city in Yemen, Singh said the coffee shop will provide a soothing atmosphere, open for everyone, including college students looking for a place to study and friends to gather.
    — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of soothing
Verb
  • While this might sound appeasing to some, the Big Ten is not onboard with this idea, sources told OutKick-FOX News and others.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Interest—from both visitors and islanders—is gently shifting away from polishing playboy yachts or appeasing the decadent whims of retirees, to something, well, more real.
    — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
Definition of appeasing
Verb
  • This means the market makers, often called dealers, are the ones that have to play catch-up, adding to volatility instead of subduing it.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 23 July 2026
  • Rome — The death of a Moroccan man in police custody has sparked protests – some violent – in the northern city of Bologna after video of the incident showing officers forcefully subduing the man circulated online.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of subduing
Adjective
  • Video compilations of Trachtenberg and Panettiere’s characters, Casey Carlyle and Gen Harwood, respectively, started circulating on social media on Monday, with fans noting the film’s comforting feel of nostalgia amid the tragic deaths of its stars.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The result is a perfect contrast of jammy fruit and light, flaky biscuits, delivering a balance of fresh summer flavor and comforting, homemade goodness.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of comforting
Adjective
  • In addition to the settlements, Suno is making conciliatory efforts towards labels.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor, who also challenged McCrory in 2024, also issued a conciliatory statement on Tuesday congratulating Khan on her election victory.
    — Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of conciliatory
Verb
  • Several other Carpenter tracks have come close to conquering the roster but missed out by a space or two.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Minnesota’s top-end talent continues to trump the depth of the Valkyries, whose success conquering the margins doesn’t seem to work against the Lynx’s magic.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of conquering
Adjective
  • From humorous and whimsical to elegant and calming, the choice is yours.
    — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The best way to make sure your words have a calming effect is to bend down to your child’s eye level, hold their hands in yours, and take a few deep breaths.
    — Francesca Castagnoli, Parents, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of calming

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Cite this Entry

“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pacifying for Spanish Speakers

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