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

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

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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 There are always crises to manage and factions to pacify. — Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026 The Indonesian government therefore declared that East Timor had been pacified. — Agathe Demarolle, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Caroline has trouble accepting Carolyn's desire for a private wedding, leading Carolyn to pacify her with a maid of honor proposal. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 6 Mar. 2026 Still the boy would not be pacified. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pacify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pacify

Verb

Instead, sources familiar with the situation pointed to Trump’s history of dropping past animosity with Republicans who appease him as one reason Pirro still has a shot of lasting beyond this week’s tenuous moment.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2026
For years, governing bodies dragged their feet, attempting to appease bad-faith critics while female athletes paid the price.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of appease

Verb

Consumer prices have likewise been subdued, with a slower-than-expected 1% rise in June from a year ago.

— Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Often, the review said, officers had to subdue aggressive dogs by the neck with a catch pole in order to load them onto patrol vehicles without ramps and walk them up to cages, a departure from industry standards.

— Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of subdue

Verb

The 42-year-old conquered the Via Alpina, which involves traversing a vast European alpine region stretching east to west from Italy, through Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and finally France and Monaco.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
In the eighteenth century, while Russia fixated on conquering Eurasia, Britain developed the steam engine; in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while Europeans fought over Africa, Americans mastered the assembly line.

— Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of conquer

Verb

Then founder and master distiller Joe McGirr subjects his spirit to a vapor chamber chockablock with even more juniper.

— Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
That effort was spurred by what union members claim were execrable working conditions to which they were subjected during the recent heat wave that gripped London.

— News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2026

Definition of subject

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pacifists

pacify

pacifying

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“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacify. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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