reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l 

reconciled; reconciling

transitive verb

1

a

: to restore to friendship or harmony

reconciled the factions

b

: settle, resolve

reconcile differences

2

: to make consistent or congruous

reconcile an ideal with reality

3

: to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant

was reconciled to hardship

4

a

: to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy

b

: to account for

intransitive verb

: to become reconciled

reconcilability

ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

reconcilable

ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

ˈre-kən-ˌsī-

adjective

reconcilement

ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l-mənt 

noun

reconciler noun

Did you know?

When faced with a kerfuffle, dustup, or other flavor of fracas, a conciliatory gesture or tone of voice—one intended to gain goodwill or to reduce hostility—can go a long way toward reconciling the squabbling parties. This makes not only common but etymological sense—both conciliatory and reconcile trace back to the Latin verb conciliare, meaning “to assemble, unite, or win over.” Reconcile can also be used when it’s facts, ideas, etc. that are being brought into agreement, and when financial accounts are checked against one another for accuracy. Reconcile is not all feel-good vibes, however. If you reconcile yourself to something unpleasant you come to accept it, as in “Even lexicographers must reconcile themselves to never knowing all the words.”

Synonyms

• accommodate
• attune
• conciliate
• conform
• coordinate
• harmonize
• key

Choose the Right Synonym for reconcile

adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another.

adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances.

adapted themselves to the warmer climate

adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism.

adjusted the budget to allow for inflation

accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence.

businesses accommodating themselves to the new political reality

conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle.

refused to conform to society's values

reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible.

tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew

Examples of reconcile in a Sentence

She and Eddie had separated and reconciled so many times the children had lost track of whose clothes were where. —John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995

He thought they might reconcile the Parisians to his daring design by reminding them of the familiar arches of their bridges. —Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up, 1990

By exposing the comic-pathetic quality of the human condition, it temporarily reconciles us to that condition without creating in us complacence, lethargy, or any negative emotion. —Clifton Fadiman, Center Magazine, January-February 1971

It is a function of architecture to reconcile technology with human cussedness, to make the mechanics of life endurable … —Russell Lynes, Harper's, October 1968

It can be difficult to reconcile your ideals with reality.

historians have never been able to reconcile the two eyewitness accounts of the battle

Recent Examples on the Web

The delegations left the meetings with a task to reconcile domestic policies with international commitments, particularly on fossil fuel reduction and renewable energy investments. —Monica Sanders, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Seduction brings the poem’s central predicament—how to reconcile free will and divine decree—down from Heaven to Earth. —Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024

The great Steve Coogan guest-starred in one episode as the ghost of Laszlo’s father, who claimed to want to reconcile with his son, but really just wanted to steal his immortal body for himself. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024

Morgan told the investigators that Rod had spent the week trying to reconcile with her. —Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reconciler, from Latin reconciliare, from re- + conciliare to conciliate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing reconcile

• reconcile to

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Kids Definition

reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl 

reconciled; reconciling

1

: to make friendly again

reconcile friends who have quarreled

2

: to settle by agreement : adjust

reconcile differences

3

: to make agree

a story that cannot be reconciled with the facts

4

: to cause to give in or to accept : make content

reconciled myself to the loss

reconcilable

ˌrek-ən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl-

adjective

reconcilement

ˈrek-ən-ˌsīl-mənt 

noun

reconciler noun

reconciliation

ˌrek-ən-ˌsil-ē-ˈā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

reconcile

verb

rec·​on·​cile ˈre-kən-ˌsīl 

reconciled; reconciling

transitive verb

1

a

: to restore to harmony

reconciled the parties

reconciled the marriage

b

: to bring to resolution

reconcile differences

2

a

: to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy

b

: to account for

intransitive verb

: to become reconciled

specifically : to voluntarily resume cohabitation as spouses prior to a divorce becoming final with the mutual intention of remaining together and reestablishing a harmonious relationship

denied the complaint for divorce because the parties had reconciled

reconcilability

ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

reconcilable

ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl 

adjective

reconcilement noun

reconciliation

ˌre-kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən 

noun