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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Known for its soothing properties, the star ingredient, centella asiatica is great for those with rosacea to strengthen the skin barrier.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2025
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The moisturizing strip heats up, providing soothing warmth, much in the same way a hot towel softens the skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Now, as the Trump administration strikes a conciliatory tone toward Russia and pulls away from some of America’s oldest allies, European leaders who long enjoyed the backing of the powerful U.S. military sense an extraordinary moment of vulnerability.—
Josh Holder,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Trump’s officials have been signaling a more conciliatory tone in recent interviews.—
Selina Wang,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2025
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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In the opening scene of Season 3, Nicholas Duvernay’s character hurls expletives at a Buddha statue — encapsulating the character’s cultural ignorance while also foreshadowing how the retreat will be anything but peaceful for those seeking peace.—
Viren Naidu,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2025
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Tesla’s stock has plummeted nearly 50 percent since late December, and the EV company has become a target for both peaceful protests and violent demonstrations, including vandalism, shootings and arson attacks.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 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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But land reform is so fundamental to how the current government took power that no citizen may portray it as anything other than a benevolent campaign that brought fairness and prosperity to China’s long-suffering farmers.—
Ian Johnson,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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Analyzing the legendary unicorn tapestries hanging at the Met Cloisters in New York (augmented here by a gory new panel that depicts the suddenly fearsome animals disemboweling and impaling their aggressors), Ridley concludes that unicorns aren’t nearly as benevolent as most people think.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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