Tranquilize: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is used in medical or veterinary fields to describe the act of administering a drug to make someone or an animal calm or sleepy.

• The veterinarian had to tranquilize the aggressive dog before performing the surgery.
• They were able to tranquilize the bear to move it safely out of the residential area.

Useful in everyday life for describing the act of making someone or something less agitated or nervous.

• She tried to calm the baby by singing a lullaby.
• His soothing words helped to calm her anxiety.

Primarily used in medical contexts to describe the act of administering a drug to make someone sleepy or quiet. Generally has a formal or clinical tone.

• The patient needed to be sedated before the operation.
• They sedated the injured animal to ease its pain.

Generally used to describe the act of bringing peace to a situation or soothing someone who is angry or upset. Sometimes carries a connotation of temporarily placating someone.

• He tried to pacify the angry customer by offering a refund.
• The teacher attempted to pacify the students after they learned about the test.

Commonly used to describe the act of becoming or making someone else less tense, usually in leisurely or stress-free settings.

• She likes to relax with a good book after a long day.
• The spa treatments helped him relax completely.