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
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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
-
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
-
Stay overnight at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa for a relaxing evening of waterfront dining and alpine views from its private beach.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Multiple officers were involved in subduing Guity and placing him in handcuffs, police said.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
14 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The local Catholic leadership, however, struck a more conciliatory tone.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Morrison has to redress the concealing and conciliatory language of the slave narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And no one on the left has shown up to work dressed like a conquering Nazi general swanning through the streets of Smolensk, the way Bovino did in the Midwest.—
Tom Nichols,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Few, if any, gave them a chance against the all-conquering Soviets, especially given the fact the American team had been humbled 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden just days before the Games started.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
In a nutshell, wastewater recycling works by first physically filtering the water, then subjecting it to reverse osmosis, and finally purifying it with ultraviolet light.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Across cultures and eras, the Moon has symbolized constancy, the comforting cycle of tides, months, fertility, and agriculture.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Start with the pimiento cheese and homemade chips, then move on to the Poulet de Normandy, a comforting chicken casserole layered over cornbread stuffing.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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