Pacifies primates holding vegetables (8)
I believe the answer is:
appeases
'pacifies' is the definition.
('appease' can be a synonym of 'pacify')
'primates holding vegetables' is the wordplay.
'primates' becomes 'apes' (ape is a kind of primate).
'holding' is an insertion indicator.
'vegetables' becomes 'peas' (peas are a type of vegetable).
'apes' enclosing 'peas' is 'APPEASES'.
(Other definitions for appeases that I've seen before include "Mollifies by making concessions" , "Placates" , "Calms" , "Conciliates, mollifies" .)