reconcile
verb
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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.”
Examples of reconcile in a Sentence
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
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
All of this comes as Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly trying to reconcile with the British royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 27 Oct. 2025
The two reconciled after a 10-year separation.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
While the prospect of testability makes this new model very exciting, Kamali says, there is still much more to be done to reconcile it with other theories in cosmology.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reconcile
Cite this Entry
“Reconcile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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reconcile
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