pacify

verb

pac·​i·​fy ˈpa-sə-ˌfī 

pacified; pacifying

transitive verb

1

a

: to allay the anger or agitation of : soothe

pacify a crying child

b

: appease, propitiate

tried to pacify the enemy with compromises

2

a

: to restore to a tranquil state : settle

made an attempt to pacify the commotion

b

: to reduce to a submissive state : subdue

forces moved in to pacify the country

pacifiable

ˌpa-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Pacify is the oldest of a set of soothing words that floated into English on the buoy of Latin pac- or pax, meaning “peace.” It arrived in the 15th century, and was followed by pacifier and pacific in the subsequent century. These words and other pac-/pax relations have proven useful. While 16th century pacifiers soothed and subdued in general ways, by the turn of the 20th century pacifier was being used with a new meaning referring specifically to a device for a baby to suck on. Also dating to around the turn of the 20th century are pacifist and pacifism. Pay also comes ultimately from this root (by way of Latin pacare, meaning “to pacify”), as does the gentlest of this lexical family, the word peace itself.

Synonyms

• appease
• assuage
• conciliate
• disarm
• gentle
• mollify
• placate
• propitiate

Choose the Right Synonym for pacify

pacify, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, conciliate mean to ease the anger or disturbance of.

pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

Examples of pacify in a Sentence

She resigned from her position to pacify her accusers.

Their efforts to pacify the nation by force failed.

trying to pacify a mob of protesters

Recent Examples on the Web

The fire squad does cover Asher with a net, but only to pacify him long enough to take a chainsaw to the tree, severing Asher’s last tether to planet Earth. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024

The effort to remake the Middle East as an incubator of liberal democracy that would pacify young Muslims failed even when the United States had plenty of cash to throw at the project and more reasons for optimism about its prospects, in the years immediately following the 9/11 attacks. —Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2015

Both attempted to pacify Iran with economic incentives, non-enforcement of sanctions and political concessions. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

The assessment pacified some employees who had objected to Dokoupil’s tone during the segment with Coates. —Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pacifien, from Anglo-French pacifier, from Latin pacificare, from pac-, pax peace

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

pacify

verb

pac·​i·​fy ˈpas-ə-ˌfī 

pacified; pacifying

1

: to make peaceful or quiet

pacify a crying child

2

: to restore to a peaceful state : settle, subdue

sent troops to pacify the country

pacification

ˌpas-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

Etymology

Middle English pacifien "to soothe the anger or disturbance of, make peaceful," from Latin pacificare (same meaning), from pac-, pax "peace" — related to appease, peace