verb

reconcile

REK-un-syle/ˈrekənsaɪl/

To bring conflicting things into agreement.

The friends reconcile their disagreement and share a warm handshake.

Two adult friends who had turned away from one another now make a warm handshake; a small faint earlier vignette shows the same pair with crossed arms back to back, clear return to friendly relations.

Etymology

+concileLatinbring together, make friendly

To make friendly again is to restore a relationship after estrangement. This idea of bringing opposing sides into agreement extended to making conflicting facts or statements consistent.

In context

Ligonier Ministries6:05

the idea we have then of God is that all God has to do to reconcile us to Himself is just simply to dispense His forgiveness upon us. But when we think like this, we forget that God is holy.

Crucifixion: What Did Jesus Do? - Understanding the Work of Christ with R.C. Sproul

More examples

She reconciles the bank statement with her own records each month.
The brothers reconcile after years of arguing.
He slowly reconciles himself to the change in plans.

Forms

reconcile · reconciles · reconciled · reconciling

reconciliation noun — The process of bringing conflicting things into agreement.

Similar words

harmonize: Emphasizes making different elements work well together, not resolving contradictions.
align: Emphasizes bringing goals or positions into agreement with a standard.