1
2

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 Carmichael criticized Christianity for pacifying the oppressed by focusing on suffering and salvation in the afterlife rather than justice in the present. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025 It was deployed to pacify the stronghold of the Zetas cartel, but operated indiscriminately and with impunity. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 5 Feb. 2025 Like every Starbucks, this one has tables and chairs and coffee and pastries and a pacifying sort of vibe. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2025 Because this is not a street brawl where the two sides need to be pacified. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pacify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
  • The key lesson of Munich is that appeasing aggressive authoritarian regimes in the hope of preserving peace emboldens them to pursue even greater acts of expansion and violence.
    Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The intrigue: Some residents expressed confusion about the legislation's timing, suggesting the zoning change was really about inflating the parcel's sale price to appease the property owner — especially because Kelly admitted a fire station was his preferred outcome.
    Sam Allard, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Subdued volatility Unlike traditional assets, bitcoin’s pops and drops were relatively subdued this week, which some investors took as a mark of its maturity.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Up until last week, the president had been more subdued in his criticism of the central bank than in his first term.
    Colby Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The memory unit sits close to a CPU or GPU, to conquer latency and provide high bandwidth with low power consumption.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Strawberry Lemonade Any cook can conquer these fresh, celebratory recipes.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While their presence pushes younger competitors to work even harder for wins, bigger racing teams just have elite equipment that can easily allow one car to dominate, the owner explained on the Dale Jr. Download podcast.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 19 Apr. 2025
  • His interest in witchcraft came to dominate his later writing.
    Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But the administration hasn’t yet subjected any other state to Maine-level scrutiny.
    Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Vietnam’s $123 billion trade surplus with the United States—the second highest in Asia after China and the highest in Southeast Asia—has subjected it to high tariffs.
    Lynn Kuok, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Republicans will need Democratic support to overcome a 60-vote threshold to be able to pass the bill in the Senate.
    John Parkinson, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • After Republicans in the House and Senate had forged ahead on their own budget blueprints earlier this year, the Senate on Saturday adopted the compromise resolution, giving the House just days to overcome opposition and get it over the finish line before the recess.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Kings defeated the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament before losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in a game that would have sent them to the playoffs as the No.
    Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In his first defense of the IBF crown, Ennis defeated David Avanesyan when the fight was halted before the start of the sixth round.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pacify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!