Definition

Mollify means to calm, soothe, or appease someone or something that is upset or angry. It involves lessening the intensity or severity of a negative emotion or situation through gentle persuasion or soothing words or actions.

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of speech

Verb

Synonyms

Appease, pacify, placate, calm, soothe, alleviate, relieve, ease, soften, temper, ameliorate, assuage

Antonyms

Aggravate, provoke, irritate, exacerbate

Example sentences

  • The teacher tried to mollify the student’s anger by listening to her concerns and offering a solution.
  • The government attempted to mollify public outrage by announcing new measures to address the issue.
  • The mother was able to mollify her crying child by offering a comforting hug.
  • The company tried to mollify its customers by offering them discounts and refunds.

Usage

Mollify is a term that is often used to describe the act of calming or soothing someone or something that is upset or angry. The word is derived from the Latin root “mollis,” which means soft or gentle. The prefix “molli-” is often used in words that convey the sense of softening, lessening, or reducing, while the suffix “-fy” is used to indicate the act of making or causing something to be a certain way.

Mollify is often used in the context of conflict resolution or crisis management, where it is necessary to calm an agitated or upset person or group of people. It can also be used in situations where it is necessary to lessen the severity or impact of a negative emotion or situation.

There are several variations of the word mollify, including mollifying (adjective) and mollification (noun). Mollifying is often used to describe words or actions that have the effect of calming or soothing someone or something, while mollification refers to the act or process of mollifying.

Overall, mollify is a term that connotes a sense of gentle persuasion or soothing action to lessen the intensity of a negative emotion or situation. Its various forms and variations can help to provide a more nuanced understanding of its meaning and usage in different contexts