PACIFY Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

pacify

verb

ˈpa-sə-ˌfī

Definition of pacify next

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 When my co-worker tried to help, the woman began yelling at her and could not be pacified. —

Courtenay Rudzinski, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024 But the sporting director and CEO have reassured Howe this week that recruitment will be collaborative, and that has pacified the head coach. —

Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 25 July 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for pacify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify

Verb

Evidence showed that ComEd scrambled to give a job to Kathy Laski, purportedly to appease Madigan and McClain.

— Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025
Between the lines: Stripe tender offers are becoming an annual tradition as the company seeks to appease employees while continuing to delay an IPO.

— Ryan Lawler, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025