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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pacify
And, if that process proved tortuous and violent, what role could the U.S. have in trying to pacify a nation of almost 90 million people?
—
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 June 2025
Sheinbaum’s government claims these tactics are already pacifying the country, with homicides officially down almost 25 percent since September.
—Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2025
These are not passive, or pacified, pregnant bodies.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Her feeds from Paris Fashion Week 2016 are a representative sample—a pacifying stream of cream and white, diamonds and lace, outsize wealth made as banal as breakfast.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 June 2025
Sheinbaum’s government claims these tactics are already pacifying the country, with homicides officially down almost 25 percent since September.
—Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2025
These are not passive, or pacified, pregnant bodies.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Her feeds from Paris Fashion Week 2016 are a representative sample—a pacifying stream of cream and white, diamonds and lace, outsize wealth made as banal as breakfast.
—Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pacify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify
Verb
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Moreover, some legal experts have said that the release of the grand jury testimony may be a misdirect to appease the public and distract from the other evidence in the case.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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In trying to appease both sides, the government of Italy imposed a five-euro (almost $6) tax last year to tourists traveling into the city in an attempt to mitigate tourism at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.—
Emily Steinberger,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
Verb
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But Vásquez Lasso’s partner that day, Officer Miguel Enciso, instead used his Taser to subdue Steven Montano, 21, who is charged with first-degree murder and other felonies in the March 1, 2023, slaying.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
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The overall inflation rate in the Bay Area has remained subdued in recent months.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
Verb
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What a confusing year for these Fever, from Clark’s three different soft tissue injuries to DeWanna Bonner’s troubled stint to … dominating the Commissioner’s Cup final, against the Minnesota Lynx no less?—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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While banks dominate credit provision in Asia far more than in Western markets — accounting for about 79% of lending compared with 54% in Europe and just 33% in the U.S., according to investment firm KKR — that dynamic is shifting.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is conquering around $23 million in previews tonight that began at 2 p.m..—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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Advocates can postulate that, absent the resolve of the United States to fight in Vietnam, even in a losing cause, the Soviet Union and China would have been emboldened to invade and conquer America, Western Europe and Japan, writing an epitaph for freedom.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The panel had previously considered a version that would have subjected all housing developments to this appeals board.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
21 July 2025
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Two things can be true: Doctors are responsible for keeping mom and baby safe during a C-section and also for not subjecting any patient to avoidable torment.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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