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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pacify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pacify are appease, conciliate, mollify, placate, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

Where would appease be a reasonable alternative to pacify?

The words appease and pacify can be used in similar contexts, but appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

When is conciliate a more appropriate choice than pacify?

The meanings of conciliate and pacify largely overlap; however, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When could mollify be used to replace pacify?

The words mollify and pacify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When might placate be a better fit than pacify?

In some situations, the words placate and pacify are roughly equivalent. However, placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

When is it sensible to use propitiate instead of pacify?

Although the words propitiate and pacify have much in common, propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

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 pacify Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies automated driving safety, said the letter shows that the recall did little to solve problems with Autopilot and was an attempt to pacify NHTSA, which demanded the recall after more than two years of investigation. Tom Krisher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2024 Interdependence, the thinking went, would yield prosperity and act as a pacifying force. Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Aug. 2023 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 See all Example Sentences for pacify 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
  • The draft legislation agreed to by most local leaders included a pledge to prioritize the project to appease north Mecklenburg communities burned by past delays.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Political chatter has picked up on Meta’s platforms following a series of moves taken by CEO Mark Zuckerberg that appeared to be aimed at appeasing President Trump.
    Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Old tires were set ablaze beneath it and the fire department was called to subdue the flames, and the mob.
    Mary Logan Bikoff, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The money will benefit first responders — who are still working to subdue the catastrophic flames in multiple parts of L.A. — as well as many of the tens of thousands of residents who have been displaced from their homes due to evacuation orders around the city.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Whoever emerged from that with the ball was treated like a conquering hero.
    Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Watch Bad Bunny try — and fail — to conquer Hot Ones above.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • He doesn’t seem driven by demons or a need to dominate anyone.
    Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
  • The Oilers absolutely dominated the first half of this one.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The rule has subjected those assets to strict capital requirements, significantly raising the financial and regulatory risks of offering crypto custody services.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025
  • In a ruling that will ripple across digital media, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a law effectively subjecting TikTok to a national ban Sunday.
    Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • From Klay Thompson to Shaun Livingston to Ball, the NBA has been filled with stories of players overcoming tremendous physical and personal adversity to return to the court.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Both quarterbacks, roommates at the Manning Passing Academy, overcame difficult, and certainly shocking, defeats on their way to leading Ohio State and Notre Dame, respectively, to Monday’s CFP national championship game in Atlanta.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Democratic incumbent Justice Allison Riggs defeated her opponent, state appeals court Judge Jefferson Griffin, by 734 votes in November's election.
    James Powel, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025
  • However, opponent Kirsty-Lee Davies defeated Haynes to ensure the championship went to a biological female.
    Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near pacify

Cite this Entry

“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pacify

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