TRANQUILLIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does tranquillize mean? 

• TRANQUILLIZE (verb)
  The verb TRANQUILLIZE has 2 senses:

1. make calm or still

2. cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

  Familiarity information: TRANQUILLIZE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRANQUILLIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they tranquillize    ... he / she / it tranquillizes   
Past simple: tranquillized   
Past participle: tranquillized   
-ing form: tranquillizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make calm or still

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize

Context example:

quiet the dragons of worry and fear

Hypernyms (to "tranquillize" is one way to...):

comfort; console; solace; soothe (give moral or emotional strength to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tranquillize"):

lull (calm by deception)

compose (calm (someone, especially oneself); make quiet)

appease; assuage; conciliate; gentle; gruntle; lenify; mollify; pacify; placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of)

assure; reassure (cause to feel sure; give reassurance to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to tranquillize Sue

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

calm; sedate; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize

Context example:

The patient must be sedated before the operation

Hypernyms (to "tranquillize" is one way to...):

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "tranquillize"):

hypnotise; hypnotize; mesmerise; mesmerize (induce hypnosis in)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

tranquillizer (a drug used to reduce stress or tension without reducing mental clarity)

 Context examples 

Catherine's spirits, however, were tranquillized but for an instant, for Eleanor's cheeks were pale, and her manner greatly agitated.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Half an hour's solitude and reflection might have tranquillized her; but the ten minutes only which now passed before she was interrupted, with all the restraints of her situation, could do nothing towards tranquillity.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)