General calming:
* Soothe: This implies reducing pain, discomfort, or emotional distress.
* Calm: This simply means to become less agitated or excited.
* Pacify: This suggests making someone less angry or hostile.
* Appease: This implies satisfying someone's demands or desires.
Specific actions:
* Assuage: This means to make a feeling less intense.
* Mollify: This means to make someone less angry or upset.
* Conciliate: This means to win someone over by being friendly or agreeable.
* Allay: This means to reduce anxiety or fear.
Other options:
* Tranquilize: This suggests calming someone to the point of being inactive.
* Sedate: This implies calming someone to the point of being drowsy.
* Compose: This means to regain control of oneself after being upset.
Ultimately, the best word to use depends on the specific situation and the desired effect.