Pacify
verb
To make someone calm or less angry.
She pacified the crying child with a toy.
Often appears as...
- pacify someone
- pacify with words
verb
To bring peace to (a place or situation), especially by using force.
The troops were sent in to pacify the region.
Often appears as...
- pacify a region
- pacify a disturbance
Usage tips
Formal
Political
verb
To make someone calm or less angry.
She pacified the crying child with a toy.
Often appears as...
- pacify someone
- pacify with words
verb
To bring peace to (a place or situation), especially by using force.
The troops were sent in to pacify the region.
Often appears as...
- pacify a region
- pacify a disturbance
Usage tips
Formal
Political
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Pacify in personal contexts often involves reducing emotional distress or conflict.
The mother's gentle hug pacified the frightened toddler.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes, 'pacify' implies only temporary calm, possibly avoiding real solutions.
He tried to pacify his partner with empty promises.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Calm
'Pacify' often means calming without touch, using words or gestures.
The teacher pacified the class with a captivating story.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Pacify in personal contexts often involves reducing emotional distress or conflict.
The mother's gentle hug pacified the frightened toddler.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes, 'pacify' implies only temporary calm, possibly avoiding real solutions.
He tried to pacify his partner with empty promises.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Calm
'Pacify' often means calming without touch, using words or gestures.
The teacher pacified the class with a captivating story.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Tone
Pacify in personal contexts often involves reducing emotional distress or conflict.
The mother's gentle hug pacified the frightened toddler.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Positive
Sometimes, 'pacify' implies only temporary calm, possibly avoiding real solutions.
He tried to pacify his partner with empty promises.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-physical Calm
'Pacify' often means calming without touch, using words or gestures.
The teacher pacified the class with a captivating story.
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Video examples
Renata Salecl: Our...
or what is a socially embraced choice. I also embrace the idea that we should go beyond thinking about individual choices, that it's very important to rethink social choices, since this ideology of individual choice has pacified us. It really prevented us to think about social change.
Video examples
Martin Schoeller: Kayapo...
they were only pacified in the late sixties. While other indigenous groups around they were already pretty much vanished, they've managed to stand up to the outside world. They're still very much in touch with their culture and their traditions.
Video examples
Renata Salecl: Our...
or what is a socially embraced choice. I also embrace the idea that we should go beyond thinking about individual choices, that it's very important to rethink social choices, since this ideology of individual choice has pacified us. It really prevented us to think about social change.
Video examples
Martin Schoeller: Kayapo...
they were only pacified in the late sixties. While other indigenous groups around they were already pretty much vanished, they've managed to stand up to the outside world. They're still very much in touch with their culture and their traditions.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Inga Muscio
American Activist
Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere. Words hurt, soothe, inspire, demean, demand, incite, pacify, teach, romance, pervert, unite, divide. Words be powerful.
Quote examples
Jed Mercurio
British Writer
The world is a horrible place, but no one worries because we have all been pacified by anodyne television in which incorruptible cops solve crimes, crusading lawyers keep the innocent out of prison, and streetwise social workers rescue children from abuse.
Quote examples
David Dellinger
I believe that the United States has no possible ability to pacify the Vietnamese people, win support for Thieu, win a political victory or a military victory in the air, on the ground, in the North or the South.
Quote examples
John Cleese
English Actor
God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. You know, flattered.
Quote examples
Chance The Rapper
American Musician
The problem is that my generation was pacified into believing that racism existed only in our history books.
Quote examples
Iliza Shlesinger
American Comedian
I firmly believe in standing by what you are. I was never taught to dim my light to pacify other people.
Quote examples
Kathryn Bigelow
American Director
I don't want to be made pacified or made comfortable. I like stuff that gets your adrenaline going.
Quote examples
Michel Temer
Brazilian Politician
I want to construct a better country for each Brazilian: pacified, just, without hate or rancor.
Quote examples
Satchel Paige
American Baseball Player
If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.
Quote examples
Jair Bolsonaro
Brazilian Politician
We need to unify Brazil, to pacify it.
Quote examples
Inga Muscio
American Activist
Words outlive people, institutions, civilizations. Words spur images, associations, memories, inspirations and synapse pulsations. Words send off physical resonations of thought into the nethersphere. Words hurt, soothe, inspire, demean, demand, incite, pacify, teach, romance, pervert, unite, divide. Words be powerful.
Quote examples
Jed Mercurio
British Writer
The world is a horrible place, but no one worries because we have all been pacified by anodyne television in which incorruptible cops solve crimes, crusading lawyers keep the innocent out of prison, and streetwise social workers rescue children from abuse.
Quote examples
David Dellinger
I believe that the United States has no possible ability to pacify the Vietnamese people, win support for Thieu, win a political victory or a military victory in the air, on the ground, in the North or the South.
Quote examples
John Cleese
English Actor
God was treated like this powerful, erratic, rather punitive father who has to be pacified and praised. You know, flattered.
Quote examples
Chance The Rapper
American Musician
The problem is that my generation was pacified into believing that racism existed only in our history books.
Quote examples
Iliza Shlesinger
American Comedian
I firmly believe in standing by what you are. I was never taught to dim my light to pacify other people.
Quote examples
Kathryn Bigelow
American Director
I don't want to be made pacified or made comfortable. I like stuff that gets your adrenaline going.
Quote examples
Michel Temer
Brazilian Politician
I want to construct a better country for each Brazilian: pacified, just, without hate or rancor.
Quote examples
Satchel Paige
American Baseball Player
If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts.
Quote examples
Jair Bolsonaro
Brazilian Politician
We need to unify Brazil, to pacify it.
Example 1 of 10
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