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
-
Nicholas has since let go of the fear of appeasing the beauty standards of others.—
Celeste Polanco,
Essence,
1 Apr. 2025 -
Knee-jerk reactions aimed at appeasing stakeholders can backfire, raising questions about whether initiatives are genuine or simply for show.—
Anjali Chaudhry,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Our Reading Accent Chair is a must, with fabric and color options available in delicate Cream Linen or soothing Olive Green.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 June 2025
-
For many aging pets, car rides can be a soothing and enjoyable outing.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
North Korea hasn't publicly responded to the conciliatory gestures by Trump and Lee.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
-
Democratic leaders have come under criticism from within, some for pushing the party too far left, and others for appearing too conciliatory toward Trump, and a number who have felt disillusioned with its agenda have left the party entirely to either identify as independent or as a Republican.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Outside cash is dominating the special election for a new county supervisor in the South Bay.—
Andrew Keatts,
Axios,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Vancouver, meanwhile, fell short against the New York Rangers, despite thoroughly dominating play and out-chancing the struggling Rangers by a brutally lopsided margin.—
Thomas Drance,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Carlos Montes, a longtime leader with Centro CSO, said the organization’s events, including protests, have always been peaceful and organized.—
Victoria Elena Valenzuela,
USA Today,
8 July 2025
-
An excellent way to unwind from daily stressors, stargazing can serve as a peaceful, mindfulness practice.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
What follows instead is a pivotal listen that conveys trauma in an assured yet disarming way.—
Leah Greenblatt,
EW.com,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
In 2005, a benevolent dust devil blew dust off the Spirit rover's solar panels, increasing its power levels.—
Unnati Ashar,
Space.com,
2 July 2025
-
Seven, a unity in seeking a sound, fair, and benevolent immigration reform is prompted by economic interest as well.—
Timothy Cardinal Dolan,
New York Daily News,
2 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Pacifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pacifying. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share