noun
pacification
pass-ih-fih-KAY-shun/ˌpæsɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
The act of restoring peace or control by calming unrest or suppressing resistance.
The mediator's pacification turns the neighbors' argument into a calmer conversation.
Etymology
Pacification names the process of making peaceful. Applied to a region, that idea could include forced submission, so the word can describe imposing control as well as calming conflict.
In context
… for pacification operations when annihilation of the foe is called for
More examples
- Local leaders favor negotiation over force as a means of pacification.
- The army's brutal pacification of the region leaves many residents afraid.
- Lasting pacification depends on addressing the grievances that fuel unrest.
Forms
pacify verb — To calm unrest or bring under control.
Similar words
- appeasement
- Calms opposition through concessions rather than by suppressing resistance.
- suppression
- Emphasizes forcibly stopping resistance, not necessarily establishing lasting peace.
- peacemaking
- Focuses on resolving conflict, usually through negotiation rather than force.