pacify

present singular third person pacifies · participle present pacifying · participle past pacified · past pacified

1. transitiveTo bring peace to (a place or situation), by ending (or suppressing) war, fighting, violence, anger or agitation.

   Near-synonyms: peacify, repacify, allay, locarnize

   1 more example

   Their orders were to pacify the province by destroying resistance.

   Synonyms: peacify, repacify, allay, locarnize

2. figurativelytransitiveTo mollify, placate or soothe (someone or something).

   Tell me that you'll call me / Just as soon as you get home / To pacify my heart while I'm alone / I don't like being alone

   1977, Maze, “While I'm Alone”, in Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly

   1 more example

   As to your frequent remarks in your letters about pacifying my friend, I have done everything I could and tried every expedient; but he is inveterate against you to a surprising degree, on what suspicions, though I think you have been told, you shall yet learn from me when you come.

   1920, Cicero, translated by Evelyn Shirley Shuckburgh, The Letters of Cicero: The Whole Extant Correspondence in Chronological Order, volume 1 (hardcover), London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., page 11

3. figurativelytransitiveTo appease (someone).

   Screaming feed me here Fill me up again Temporarily pacifying

   2000, “The Hollow”, performed by A Perfect Circle

   1 more example

   Watt decided in the end that an examination of Erskine's room was essential, if his mind was to be pacified, in this connexion.

   1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC

   Synonyms: placate, see others there