tranquilize

/ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/

//ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z// verb

"tranquilize" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“tranquilize” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To calm (a person or animal) or put them to sleep using a tranquilizer dart.

Key facts for tranquilize
PropertyValue
Headwordtranquilize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “tranquilize” sits in English frequency

tranquilize falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for tranquilize is 11 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for tranquilize, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our dataset records no confusable match here, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French tranquiliser. Analyzable as tranquil + -ize. The correct English form is tranquilize, spelled T-R-A-N-Q-U-I-L-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To calm (a person or animal) or put them to sleep using a tranquilizer dart.
  2. 2
    To make (something or someone) tranquil.
  3. 3
    To become tranquil.
  4. 4
    To dart (a person or animal) with a sedative

Etymology

From Middle French tranquiliser. Analyzable as tranquil + -ize.

Synonyms

Antonyms

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "tranquilize"?
"tranquilize" is spelled T-R-A-N-Q-U-I-L-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/.
What does "tranquilize" mean?
As a verb, "tranquilize" means: To calm (a person or animal) or put them to sleep using a tranquilizer dart.
How do you pronounce "tranquilize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "tranquilize" is /ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "tranquilize"?
From Middle French tranquiliser. Analyzable as tranquil + -ize. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “tranquilize”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is T-R-A-N-Q-U-I-L-I-Z-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈtɹæŋkwɪlaɪ̯z/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list