1
as in to appease
to lessen the anger or agitation of
the only thing that would pacify the child and end the tantrum was a new toy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to subdue
to bring under one's control by force of arms
additional ground forces were needed to occupy those areas that had already been pacified
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacify
Hopefully Grammer can figure out a way to pacify his neighbors — perhaps an open invitation to the games room.
—
Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
Tradition is both a source of security and a pacifying trap today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Despite American claims that the attack on Bud Dajo would pacify the restive Moros, the unrest continued.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Some of the men, scorning old wives’ tales, prefer to pacify God and ask him for protection from the elements.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Bridget Read, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
Tradition is both a source of security and a pacifying trap today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
Despite American claims that the attack on Bud Dajo would pacify the restive Moros, the unrest continued.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Some of the men, scorning old wives’ tales, prefer to pacify God and ask him for protection from the elements.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
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It was changed at the final hour to move up the start date for work requirements from 2029 to 2026 to appease hard-liners who threatened to withhold their votes and imperil the bill’s passage.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
-
Tiller is set to release albums in back-to-back years for the first time in his career, as fans’ appetites will be appeased.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
27 May 2025
Verb
-
Yet, as trade tensions subdued, the stock rebounded 30% from its lowest point.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
-
Artificial intelligence capabilities are on the way to the iPhone, but applause was subdued throughout the keynote as the company had few surprises to unveil.—
Kif Leswing,Samantha Subin,Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Ephesus is primarily known as a Ionian Greek city, but it was later conquered and rebuilt by the Romans.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Updated June 4, 2025: In 2018, Eva Steinwald was still conquering her fear of heights.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Silver did admit, however, that the ratings discussion that often dominates the conversation is an irritant for him.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
This is a game that will be dominating time on rec room TV or backseat car rides for years to come.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Mengele sought out twins who arrived at Auschwitz in order to subject them to medical experiments.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
6 June 2025
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Foreign governments often engage in smear campaigns against anyone that does not toe the line, subjecting them to public excoriation and private surveillance.—
Schuyler Moore,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
But your brain might still seek patterns to overcome.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Yet soon one is overcome by Charles Laughton’s creepy, convincing portrayal of Captain Bligh’s sadomasochism: most of the first fifteen minutes is taken up with floggings and other shipboard disciplining of half-naked men, shown in detail while Laughton looks on with long-lipped lasciviousness.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Verb
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His reign ended as another American emerged, Francis Ouimet, a mild-mannered amateur who defeated Vardon and Ted Ray in a playoff.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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That’s supposed to keep immigrant families safe and defeat Trump?—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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