Meaning
To reconcile means to restore friendly relations between people, or to make two different ideas, facts, or situations agree with each other. It can also mean to accept a situation even if it is unpleasant.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Verb
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Transitive verb (requires an object)
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Common patterns:
- reconcile A with B → to make two things compatible
- reconcile oneself to something → to accept something reluctantly
Variations
- reconcile A to B: to cause someone to accept something
- be reconciled with someone: to restore a relationship
Common Phrases
- reconcile differences
- reconcile accounts (in accounting, to make financial records agree)
- reconcile oneself to reality
- be reconciled with someone
Collocations
- verb + reconcile: try to reconcile, attempt to reconcile, fail to reconcile
- noun + reconcile: reconcile differences, reconcile accounts, reconcile conflict
- adjective + reconcile: mutually reconciled, finally reconciled
Examples
- After years of conflict, the two nations finally reconciled.
- She tried to reconcile her career with her family life.
- He found it hard to reconcile his beliefs with his actions.
- They were reconciled after a long argument.
- The accountant had to reconcile the company’s bank statements.
- She eventually reconciled herself to the fact that she could not change the past.
- The manager attempted to reconcile the conflicting demands of customers and employees.
- Their marriage broke down because they couldn’t reconcile their differences.
Synonyms or Related
- restore, harmonize, resolve, settle, reunite, mend, adjust, accept