First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
reconcile
verb rec·on·cile \ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l\
: to find a way of making (two different ideas, facts, etc.) exist or be true at the same time
: to cause people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement
rec·on·ciledrec·on·cil·ing
Full Definition of RECONCILE
transitive verb
1
2
: to make consistent or congruous <reconcile an ideal with reality>
3
: to cause to submit to or accept something unpleasant <was reconciled to hardship>
4
a : to check (a financial account) against another for accuracy b : to account for
intransitive verb
: to become reconciled
— rec·on·cil·abil·i·ty \ˌre-kən-ˌsī-lə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— rec·on·cil·able \ˌre-kən-ˈsī-lə-bəl, ˈre-kən-ˌ\ adjective
— rec·on·cile·ment \ˈre-kən-ˌsī(-ə)l-mənt\ noun
— rec·on·cil·er noun
See reconcile defined for English-language learners
See reconcile defined for kids
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Examples of RECONCILE
- She and Eddie had separated and reconciled so many times the children had lost track of whose clothes were where. —John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995
- He thought they might reconcile the Parisians to his daring design by reminding them of the familiar arches of their bridges. —Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up, 1990
- By exposing the comic-pathetic quality of the human condition, it temporarily reconciles us to that condition without creating in us complacence, lethargy, or any negative emotion. —Clifton Fadiman, Center Magazine, January-February 1971
- It is a function of architecture to reconcile technology with human cussedness, to make the mechanics of life endurable … —Russell Lynes, Harper's, October 1968
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Origin of RECONCILE
Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French reconciler, from Latin reconciliare, from re- + conciliare to conciliate
Related to RECONCILE
- Synonyms
- accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, key, harmonize
- Antonyms
- disharmonize
Synonym Discussion of RECONCILE
adapt, adjust, accommodate, conform, reconcile mean to bring one thing into correspondence with another. adapt implies a modification according to changing circumstances <adapted themselves to the warmer climate>. adjust suggests bringing into a close and exact correspondence or harmony such as exists between parts of a mechanism <adjusted the budget to allow for inflation>. accommodate may suggest yielding or compromising to effect a correspondence <accommodated his political beliefs in order to win>. conform applies to bringing into accordance with a pattern, example, or principle <refused to conform to society's values>. reconcile implies the demonstration of the underlying compatibility of things that seem to be incompatible <tried to reconcile what he said with what I knew>.
Rhymes with RECONCILE
RECONCILE Defined for Kids
reconcile
verb rec·on·cile \ˈre-kən-ˌsīl\
rec·on·ciledrec·on·cil·ing
Definition of RECONCILE for Kids
1
: to make friendly again <She helped to reconcile friends who had been quarreling.>
2
: to settle by agreement : adjust <You'll have to reconcile your differences.>
3
: to make agree <His story cannot be reconciled with the facts.>
4
: to cause to give in or accept <I reconciled myself to the loss.>
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