What does tranquillise mean?
Tranquillise means to make someone or something calm and peaceful. It is commonly used for reducing anxiety, emotional agitation, nervous tension, or disorder in a place: a calm voice may tranquillise an angry crowd, while medication may be used to tranquillise a distressed patient. The verb can describe either a deliberate action or the gradual effect of something soothing, such as music, a walk, or a quiet room. Although tranquillise is usually transitive, it can also be used without an object when the subject is a person: “She waited for the news to tranquillise.” In British English, the standard spelling has two l’s, while American English more often uses “tranquilize.” The word belongs to the same learned vocabulary as tranquil, tranquillity, and equanimity, and its formal sound gives it a literary or clinical quality. It is especially useful when describing the deliberate calming of people, feelings, or environments.
verbTo make a person, place, situation, or feeling calm and peaceful. It can also mean to soothe or settle emotional or physical agitation.
- To make someone or something calm, peaceful, or free from agitation.
"The quiet music helped to tranquillise the crowded room."
"A short walk helped tranquillise her after the tense meeting."
"The doctor prescribed medication to tranquillise the restless patient."
From Latin tranquillus, meaning “calm,” tranquillise gives “tranquil” its action: bringing peace to a person or situation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tranquillise
Tranquillise belongs to a family of English words derived from Latin tranquillus, meaning “calm” or “peaceful.” The Latin root is associated with tran- and quies, “rest.” The English verb developed from this Latin adjective through the same wider European vocabulary that produced the cognate noun tranquillity, while the -ise spelling is characteristic of British English.
Related word forms
How tranquillise is actually used
Usually transitive, though it can also be used intransitively, as in “The music began to tranquillise.” The verb has a formal, literary, or therapeutic tone and is especially associated with calming people, emotions, minds, and surroundings.
Easily confused with tranquillise
Tranquilize and tranquillise are spelling variants of the same verb, with the former generally preferred in American English and the latter in British English.