pacify
verb
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Pacify is the oldest of a set of soothing words that floated into English on the buoy of Latin pac- or pax, meaning “peace.” It arrived in the 15th century, and was followed by pacifier and pacific in the subsequent century. These words and other pac-/pax relations have proven useful. While 16th century pacifiers soothed and subdued in general ways, by the turn of the 20th century pacifier was being used with a new meaning referring specifically to a device for a baby to suck on. Also dating to around the turn of the 20th century are pacifist and pacifism. Pay also comes ultimately from this root (by way of Latin pacare, meaning “to pacify”), as does the gentlest of this lexical family, the word peace itself.
Synonyms
Examples of pacify in a Sentence
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024
The effort to remake the Middle East as an incubator of liberal democracy that would pacify young Muslims failed even when the United States had plenty of cash to throw at the project and more reasons for optimism about its prospects, in the years immediately following the 9/11 attacks.
—Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2015
Both attempted to pacify Iran with economic incentives, non-enforcement of sanctions and political concessions.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
The assessment pacified some employees who had objected to Dokoupil’s tone during the segment with Coates.
—Brian Stelter, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pacify 
Dictionary Entries Near pacify
Cite this Entry
“Pacify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pacify. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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pacify
verb
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