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

Examples 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 war room looked, to some, less like a solution and more like a mollifying stunt—a show put on for the press. Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024 The anger in his eyes is not mollified by his charcoal suit, blue shirt, black tie, and black dress shoes. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024 In an August 15 speech, Abe mollified liberals and regional observers by including language seen as essential for acknowledging Japan’s past wrongdoing. Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2022 The document could dispel those notions and also mollify some critics who've blasted Harris for not being more detailed about her policy plans if elected. Emily Peck, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mollify 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollify
Verb
  • On Wednesday, Albertsons blamed Kroger for not trying harder to appease wary regulators and therefore breaching its merger agreement to act in good faith.
    Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Questions about a plan to sell off some stores The judge separately weighed the plan by Kroger and Albertsons to sell hundreds of their stores to a firm called C&S Wholesale Grocers as a condition of their merger, meant to appease regulators.
    Alina Selyukh, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • How can people alleviate winter air pollution? Residents can take action to reduce air pollution during inversions and dry, stagnant weather conditions.
    Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Between holiday gifting, Black Friday, and the dopamine hit that is simply buying something just to alleviate the pre-wintertime blues, rounding up the best new beauty products of the last few weeks is fitting.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Miss Manners is relieved not to be asked what to do about that vulgarity.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
  • This massage gun can help relieve them with its rotating percussion arm and ergonomic grip for personalized muscle treatments.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The premium tax credit is a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover the premiums for their ACA health insurance.
    Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • He was so well regarded after helping Canada dodge the worst of the global economic crisis that the U.K. named him the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694.
    Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • From hydrating to shine-controlling to soothing, each face mist is designed to tackle specific skin-care concerns and should complement your existing regiment.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Only have 30 minutes to soothe your rage before family dinner?
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The environmental impact could be mitigated with smarter usage choices.
    Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Power to about 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night, including 11,000 in LA County, as Southern California Edison worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.
    Jae C. Hong, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That could cause trouble for Trump, who faces a potential Catch-22 that will make easing the housing burden difficult to solve.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • This external validation can ease the discomfort of inconsistency in relationships and provide further confidence to navigate the disagreement. 3.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near mollify

Cite this Entry

“Mollify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollify. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mollify

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