1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
a pacifying treat of milk and cookies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
the referee adopted a pacifying tone to try to calm everyone down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacifying
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
Verb
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
Adjective
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If horseback riding and hiking aren't really your thing, opt to spend your mornings practicing yoga or gliding along the zip-line course before booking a relaxing treatment at the full-service spa.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Mar. 2026
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After a day of perfecting your pop-ups, take a soothing dip in the property’s infinity pool, set amidst lush greens for a truly relaxing scene.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Multiple officers were involved in subduing Guity and placing him in handcuffs, police said.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
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As the representative for the armed wing of a human empire, you're tasked with subduing these Lovecraftian abominations and securing a foothold for humanity on alien worlds.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The rooms The 132 rooms (including nine suites and a presidential suite) feel airy, soothing, and upscale without veering fussy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Mar. 2026
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Step one clears away dead skin and gunk with exfoliating acids like lactic, malic, and glycolic; step two adds in soothing, anti-aging ingredients like green tea and adenosine.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Anthropic appears to be trying to cool the tensions with the Pentagon, with Amodei striking a more conciliatory note in the most recent statement.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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After initially trying to strike a conciliatory tone, Iran's security forces cracked down amid an internet blackout.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vin Baker did not want to return a conquering University of Hartford hero just yet.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Best of luck conquering the world today and, of course, do keep in touch.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Researchers at the institution spent two years investigating the canvas, matching the signature and the pigments on the canvas to those of other works by Rembrandt, and subjecting the work to macro-XRF scans revealing compositional changes.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
3 Mar. 2026
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There is a real concern that what remains of the system may seek revenge for these events, targeting prisoners and political activists who are still outside prison, detaining them, and subjecting them to executions or severe punishments.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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And nothing is more comforting than a warm bowl of soup on a cold winter day.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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