reconcile

Universal Words verb [VN] 1 ~ sth (with sth) to find a satisfactory way of dealing with two or more ideas, needs, etc. that seem to be opposed to each other: an attempt to reconcile the need for industrial development with concern for the environment * It was hard to reconcile his career ambitions with the needs of his children. 2 [usuallypassive] ~ sb (with sb) to make people become friends again after an argument or a disagreement: The pair were reconciled after Jackson made a public apology. * He has recently been reconciled with his wife. 3 ~ sb / yourself (to sth) to make sb/yourself accept an unpleasant situation because it is not possible to change it: He could not reconcile himself to the prospect of losing her. reconcilable adjective