pacify

/ˈpæsəfaɪ/

Group 32Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To bring peace to a place or situation; to quell anger or agitation
GRE

Example in Context

The government's attempt to pacify the restive province with economic concessions failed when the underlying political grievances remained unaddressed.

Synonyms

calmsoothequiet

Etymology

To make peace or calm down.

  • pax (Latin) — peace
  • facere (Latin) — to make

Memory Aid

🥧Sounds like “pass a pie

When my friends were fighting over the last piece, I decided to PASS A PIE to PACIFY the situation!

Visual Association

🕊️A serene dove landing in the middle of two bickering kids, bringing calm and peace.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “pacify” mean on the GRE?

pacify (verb) means “To bring peace to a place or situation; to quell anger or agitation”. The government's attempt to pacify the restive province with economic concessions failed when the underlying political grievances remained unaddressed.

How to remember “pacify” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “pacify” sounds like “pass a pie”. When my friends were fighting over the last piece, I decided to PASS A PIE to PACIFY the situation!

What are synonyms for “pacify”?

Common synonyms: calm, soothe, quiet.