tranquilize

verb

tran·​quil·​ize ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz 

ˈtran-

variants or less commonly tranquillize

tranquilized also tranquillized; tranquilizing also tranquillizing

transitive verb

: to make tranquil or calm : pacify

especially : to relieve of mental tension and anxiety by means of drugs

intransitive verb

1

: to become tranquil : relax sense 1

2

: to make one tranquil

Synonyms

• becalm
• calm
• compose
• lull
• lullaby
• quiet
• quieten [chiefly British]
• salve
• settle
• soothe
• still

Examples of tranquilize in a Sentence

They tranquilized the bear with a dart so that it could be safely moved to a different area.

at long last the crying baby was tranquilized by the steady rocking of her cradle

Recent Examples on the Web

The deer, tagged to indicate it had been tranquilized, was awakened and bounded away into the forest, officials said. —Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025

Wallerstein tagged the doe to indicate she had been tranquilized and administered a reversal drug before setting her free. —Graeme Taskerud, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025

American Airlines will not accept carry-on pets that have been tranquilized or sedated. Pets in cargo: American Airlines only allows active-duty U.S. military servicemembers and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel traveling on official orders to check their furry friends. —Sarah Kuta, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2023

Just 2 milligrams is needed to tranquilize an elephant; that same amount is powerful enough to kill 50 people, according to a Department of Veteran Affairs report. —Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

tranquilize

verb

tran·​quil·​ize

variants also tranquillize

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz 

ˈtran-

tranquilized also tranquillized; tranquilizing also tranquillizing

: to make or become tranquil or relaxed

especially : to ease the nervous tension and anxiety of usually by means of drugs

Medical Definition

tranquilize

transitive verb

tran·​quil·​ize

variants or chiefly British tranquillize or tranquillise

ˈtraŋ-kwə-ˌlīz, ˈtran- 

tranquilized or chiefly British tranquilized or tranquilised; tranquilizing or chiefly British tranquilizing or tranquilising

: to make tranquil or calm

especially : to relieve of mental tension and anxiety by means of drugs

tranquilization noun

or chiefly British tranquillization or tranquillisation

ˌtraŋ-kwə-lə-ˈzā-shən, ˌtran-