Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mollify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mollify are appease, conciliate, pacify, placate, and propitiate. While all these words mean "to ease the anger or disturbance of," mollify implies soothing hurt feelings or rising anger.

a speech that mollified the demonstrators

When is appease a more appropriate choice than mollify?

The words appease and mollify are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appease implies quieting insistent demands by making concessions.

appease their territorial ambitions

When might conciliate be a better fit than mollify?

The meanings of conciliate and mollify largely overlap; however, conciliate suggests ending an estrangement by persuasion, concession, or settling of differences.

conciliating the belligerent nations

When is it sensible to use pacify instead of mollify?

While in some cases nearly identical to mollify, pacify suggests a soothing or calming.

pacified by a sincere apology

When could placate be used to replace mollify?

In some situations, the words placate and mollify are roughly equivalent. However, placate suggests changing resentment or bitterness to goodwill.

a move to placate local opposition

Where would propitiate be a reasonable alternative to mollify?

The synonyms propitiate and mollify are sometimes interchangeable, but propitiate implies averting anger or malevolence especially of a superior being.

propitiated his parents by dressing up

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mollify But the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte worked hard to get all the allies to commit to five percent on defense spending and went out of his way to mollify Trump, Williams said. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Netanyahu’s explanations were largely aimed at mollifying his right-wing supporters who adamantly oppose the entry of any humanitarian aid to Gaza, including to civilians. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 May 2025 His remarking that the G7 should be the G8 with Russia brought back into this exclusive club—or even the G9, with China in as well—and other mollifying gestures stir deep anxieties. Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Much of their war of words actually has appeared intended to mollify nationalistic critics on their own sides. Sopheng Cheang, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mollify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollify
Verb
  • To rob them and their kids of their voices in Congress, all to appease the Republican Party’s cult leader in the White House.
    Eleanor Dearman Updated August 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Aug. 2025
  • While the government has not given into the pressure to release the full Epstein files, the request for the grand jury materials is one of a few more limited steps the DOJ has taken to try and appease the public.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Pair your medication with lifestyle changes – like nutrition and exercise – to alleviate any adverse symptoms.
    Sam Woodward, USA Today, 25 July 2025
  • Watson suggested adding 500 beds to the North Central Unit in Castle Rock, along with a new 1,000-bed prison, which, combined, would help alleviate the state's overcrowding problem.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Troy Morrow − whose 76-year-old mother suffered facial fractures and a concussion after being knocked to the pavement by Raleigh's son during the incident − was visibly relieved after the jury in Hamilton County Municipal Court announced its decision.
    Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 July 2025
  • Diana Medrano, a resident of Mosier Valley since 2012, said she was relieved Peoples came to visit.
    Kamal Morgan July 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Mark was disappointed, but the poster defended himself, saying he’s helped before and didn’t want to be taken for granted.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 July 2025
  • John Day editor-in-chief Richard Walsh and the celebrated writer Pearl S. Buck already had an author in mind for the book: twelve years earlier, Walsh and Buck had helped Chinese writer Lin Yutang to move to the United States, after Shanghai got too risky for the anticommunist liberal.
    H.M.A. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • Niacinamide helps refine texture, hyaluronic acid keeps hydration levels in check, and vitamin E adds a soothing antioxidant boost.
    Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
  • Soak in a naturally heated pool while enjoying the beauty of the adjacent Sinclair Canyon rock cliffs and the soothing chant of Sinclair Creek.
    Jenny Wisniewski, USA Today, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • Climate scientists anticipate if nothing is done to mitigate the toll of climate change, Wisconsin will have three times the number of extremely hot days and quadruple the number of extremely hot nights by 2050.
    Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • The transformative effects of emerging technologies in this year by artificial intelligence and quantum computing will be hugely impactful; however, their cybersecurity challenges on society will require the need for proactive security adaptation and collaboration to mitigate new threats.
    Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Barrels are then transferred to the center of the first floor of the Warehouse E, slowly concentrating the flavors and easing into the correct balance.
    Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 2 Aug. 2025
  • The Kremlin shows no sign of easing up its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mollify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollify. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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