reconcile

[ rek-uhn-sahyl ]

verb (used with object)

, rec·on·ciled, rec·on·cil·ing.

1. to cause (a person) to accept or be resigned to something not desired:

   He was reconciled to his fate.

2. to win over to friendliness; cause to become amicable:

   to reconcile hostile persons.

   Synonyms: placate, propitiate, pacify

3. to compose or settle (a quarrel, dispute, etc.).

   Antonyms: anger

4. to bring into agreement or harmony; make compatible or consistent:

   to reconcile differing statements;

   to reconcile accounts.

   Synonyms: harmonize

5. to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, cemetery, etc.).
6. to restore (an excommunicate or penitent) to communion in a church.

verb (used without object)

, rec·on·ciled, rec·on·cil·ing.

1. to become reconciled.

reconcile

/ ˈrɛkənˌsaɪl; -trɪ; ˌrɛkənˌsɪlɪˈeɪʃən; ˌrɛkənˈsɪlɪətərɪ /

verb

1. often passiveusually foll byto to make (oneself or another) no longer opposed; cause to acquiesce in something unpleasant

   she reconciled herself to poverty

2. to become friendly with (someone) after estrangement or to re-establish friendly relations between (two or more people)
3. to settle (a quarrel or difference)
4. to make (two apparently conflicting things) compatible or consistent with each other
5. to reconsecrate (a desecrated church, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈreconˌciler, noun
• reconciliatory, adjective
• ˈreconˌcilement, noun
• reconciliation, noun

Other Words From

• recon·cilement noun
• recon·ciler noun
• recon·ciling·ly adverb
• pre·recon·cile verb (used with object) prereconciled prereconciling
• pre·recon·cilement noun
• quasi-recon·ciled adjective
• un·recon·ciled adjective
• un·recon·ciling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reconcile¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English reconcilen, from Latin reconciliāre “to make good again, repair,” equivalent to re- re- + conciliāre “to bring together” ( conciliate )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reconcile¹

C14: from Latin reconciliāre to bring together again, from re- + conciliāre to make friendly, conciliate

Example Sentences

How will she reconcile with Latinos sore that they aren’t represented by one of their own?

From Los Angeles Times

On this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick was joined by Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin to try to reconcile our split-screen moment: democracy being seen to be done, and the looming decimation of democracy.

From Slate

“Now they’re taking a completely contrary position? How do you reconcile that?” said McNicholas.

From Los Angeles Times

Like many liberals, Terhune, who spoke by phone from his home on the day after the election, was finding it difficult to reconcile the many ruptures and recriminations that have jolted the country since Trump’s first campaign eight years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

The nomination certainly might have gone to Harris anyway, but she would have had an extra year to prepare her campaign, stand up a policy shop, and strategize how to reconcile the unabashed progressive who sought the nomination in 2019 with the more cautious, conservative figure that Americans got to know on the campaign trail since the summer.

From Slate

Related Words

• accommodate
• appease
• assuage
• conform
• coordinate
• harmonize
• integrate
• pacify
• placate
• rectify
• resolve
• reunite