pacify

v.

1. To mollify

   conciliate, appease, placate, mollify, propitiate, assuage, soothe, smooth over, calm, tranquilize, subdue, pour oil on troubled waters; see also quiet 1.

2. To quiet

   soothe, silence, lull; see quiet 2.

pacify implies the making quiet, calm, and peaceful of someone or something that has become agitated, angry, or disorderly to pacify a crying child; appease suggests a pacifying by gratifying or giving in to the demands of to appease one's hunger; mollify suggests a soothing of wounded feelings or an allaying of indignation his compliments failed to mollify her; placate implies the changing of a hostile or angry attitude to a friendly or favorable one to placate an offended colleague; propitiate implies an allaying or forestalling of hostile feeling by winning the good will of sacrifices made to propitiate a deity; conciliate implies the use of arbitration, concession, persuasion, etc. in an attempt to win over