Word
reconcile
Phoneticsrec·on·cile
US/ˈɹɛkənˌsaɪɫ/
UK/ɹˈɛkənsˌaɪl/
Definitions
01to restore a relationship
v. to become friendly again after a fight or disagreement.
v. to restore friendly relations between parties after a period of conflict or estrangement.
“After not speaking for years, the two brothers finally managed to reconcile.”
“The mediator worked tirelessly to reconcile the warring factions, eventually securing a fragile peace treaty that satisfied both leaderships.”
Usage
Often used with 'with' when an object is present.
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Antonyms
02to make ideas coexist
v. to find a way to make two different ideas or facts exist together without conflict.
v. to make two seemingly incompatible concepts, facts, or beliefs consistent with one another.
“It is sometimes hard to reconcile your personal beliefs with your professional duties.”
“The philosopher attempted to reconcile the existence of evil with the concept of a benevolent deity, a challenge that has persisted for centuries.”
Academic
Usage
Typically takes a direct object followed by 'with'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03to check financial records
v. to check that two sets of numbers, like a bank statement and your own records, match exactly.
v. to ensure that the net difference in credits and debits of a financial account agrees with the corresponding balance.
“The accountant needs to reconcile the bank statement with the company's internal records.”
“At the end of each fiscal quarter, the treasury department must reconcile all outstanding invoices to ensure the ledger reflects the actual cash flow.”
Technical · Formal
Usage
Commonly used in accounting and legal contexts regarding audits.
Real-World Examples
“The archive connects readers to the voices of Irish Jews, demonstrating how earlier generations reconciled those two identities.” “How do you reconcile these criticisms as they relate to your research on musicals?” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin reconciliō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/reconcile