1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
a pacifying treat of milk and cookies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in appeasing
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
the referee adopted a pacifying tone to try to calm everyone down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in comforting
to lessen the anger or agitation of
the only thing that would pacify the child and end the tantrum was a new toy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subduing
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacifying
Verb
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Representative Mike Lawler of New York, who has hinted at ambitions for a governor bid in 2026, according to the New York Post, will need to walk a fine line between appeasing his party and not upsetting potential voters in his home state, which could put him at odds with Republicans.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
4 Jan. 2025 -
According to Atlas Obscura, also on Christmas Eve, some families believe in appeasing the nisser—barn-dwelling house elves that are said to help residents survive tough winters—and many children continue to leave a bowl of risengrød, or sweet porridge, for the folkloric creatures.—
Chad de Guzman,
TIME,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The best facial massager for you will be the one that not only targets your primary skin-care concerns but also offers a soothing moment of self-care, keeping you coming back for more.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
22 Feb. 2025
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The scents are typically designed to smell soothing and sophisticated.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Moscow has welcomed Trump's more conciliatory tone.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
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But even then, some of the talk is witty and instructive, building toward a resolution that, if not happy, feels conciliatory and hard-earned, while true to its characters’ flaws and vanities.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Is there not a single executive somewhere at Netflix to greenlight a fresh retelling of the core Hanukkah story of pride, miracles, and determined guerilla warfare against a conquering despot?—
Gord Magill,
Newsweek,
20 Dec. 2024
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Then English speakers began conquering Celtic, Native American, African, Australian and other peoples, pressuring or forcing them to give up their languages.—
Ross Perlin,
The Dial,
14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Blending fiddle with a stomp-clap sing-along and a familiar hip-hop melody, the song etched a spot in music history this year by dominating charts and scoring near-countless streams.—
Matthew Leimkuehler,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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With new brands emerging daily, celebrity endorsements dominating the narrative, and marketing claims becoming increasingly hyperbolic, standing out as a true industry leader requires more than innovative packaging or a catchy tagline.—
Lara Devgan,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and was up, sitting in his armchair on Wednesday receiving therapy.—
Trisha Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Feb. 2025
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The Vatican said the pope had a peaceful night and left his bed to sit in an armchair on Wednesday.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This will be both disarming and believable, allowing your daughter to propose times that are both far off and inconvenient.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
15 Dec. 2022
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What follows instead is a pivotal listen that conveys trauma in an assured yet disarming way.—
Leah Greenblatt,
EW.com,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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Secret Societies and the Fight for Black Freedom Dating to the pre-Revolutionary era, mutual aid and benevolent societies supported Black Americans and the fight for civil rights and justice.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
20 Feb. 2025
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Steves, with his impeccable recommendations, sensible budgeting options, and gently corny prose style, has served as the benevolent fairy godfather on more than one trip for me.—
Constance Grady,
Vox,
19 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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