Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pacify

/ˈpæsɪfaɪ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.73 in modern English

Syllables: paci-fy
IPA: /ˈpæsɪfaɪ/

16

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

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

Transitive verb

verb

To mollify, placate or soothe (someone or something).

Transitive verb

verb

To appease (someone).

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Near-synonyms: peacify, repacify, allay, locarnize"
"Their orders were to pacify the province by destroying resistance."
"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."
"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"
"Watt decided in the end that an examination of Erskine's room was essential, if his mind was to be pacified, in this connexion."
"Screaming feed me here Fill me up again Temporarily pacifying"

Etymology

From Middle French pacifier, from Latin pāx (“peace”) + faciō (“to do, make”). Cognate with pay and peacify.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: pacifier, pāx

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpæsɪfaɪ/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

pacifies (present, singular) pacifying (participle, present) pacified (participle, past) pacified (past)

Derived Forms

pacifiable pacifier pacifyingly repacify unpacify unpacifying

Frequently Paired Words

pacific pacifier pacifism pacifist pacifistic passive peace calmness

Synonyms

peacify repacify allay locarnize placate see others there ameliorate appease assuage becalm gentle bestill

Homonyms

passify

Antonyms

agitate becraze enrage harass provoke taunt

Rhymes With

classify declassify

Questions

How do you pronounce pacify?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpæsɪfaɪ/.
What does pacify mean?: To bring peace to (a place or situation), by ending (or suppressing) war, fighting, violence, anger or agitation.
Where does pacify come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce pacify

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pacify”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpæsɪfaɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pacify”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pacify” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.