pacify

UK: /ˈpæsɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈpæsəˌfaɪ/ ,(pas′ə fī′)

Inflections of 'pacify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pacifies

v 3rd person singular

pacifying

v pres p

pacified

v past

pacified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pac•i•fy /ˈpæsəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to bring or restore to a state of peace:
   The babysitter tried to pacify the screaming child.
2. to bring to a state of order, often by force; subdue:
   The army was ordered to pacify the surrounding area.

pac•i•fi•ca•tion /ˌpæsəfɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -pac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pac•i•fy  (pas′ə fī′), v.t., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to bring or restore to a state of peace or tranquillity;
   quiet;
   calm: to pacify an angry man.
2. to appease: to pacify one's appetite.
3. to reduce to a state of submission, esp. by military force;
   subdue.

• Latin pācificāre to make peace. See pacific, -fy
• late Middle English 1425–75

pac′i•fi′a•ble, adj. 
pac′i•fy′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. soothe, mollify, assuage.

Antonyms

• 2. anger, enrage.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pacify / ˈpæsɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)(transitive)

1. to calm the anger or agitation of; mollify
2. to restore to peace or order, esp by the threat or use of force

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French pacifier; see pacific

ˈpaciˌfiable adjective