pacify

Verb

pacify (third-person singular simple present pacifies, present participle pacifying, simple past and past participle pacified)

1. (transitive) To bring peace to (a place or situation), by ending (or suppressing) war, fighting, violence, anger or agitation.
   • Near-synonyms: peacify, repacify, allay, locarnize
   • Their orders were to pacify the province by destroying resistance.

   Synonyms:

   peacify, repacify, allay, locarnize

2. (figuratively, transitive) To mollify, placate or soothe (someone or something).
   • 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
   • 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 alone1977, Maze, “While I'm Alone”, in Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly
3. (figuratively, transitive) To appease (someone).
   • 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
   • Screaming feed me here
     Fill me up again
     Temporarily pacifying2000, “The Hollow”, performed by A Perfect Circle

   Synonyms:

   placate