MOLLIFY Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mollify

verb

ˈmä-lə-ˌfī

Definition of mollify next

as in to appease

to lessen the anger or agitation of an apology would probably mollify your friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to alleviate

to make more bearable or less severe a friendly gesture that did a lot to mollify their suspicions about the new neighbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Or was this a political visit meant to mollify them? —

Kavitha Surana, CNN Money, 28 May 2026 Or was this a political visit meant to mollify them? —

Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 26 May 2026 When presented with a more representative sample of moderate voters, those hard views tend to mollify, the researchers found, as many saw eye-to-eye on several economic and social issues. —

Tristan Bove, Fortune, 13 May 2026 But not everyone was mollified by the announcement. —

O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mollify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollify

Verb

But the rollercoaster ride for AI could get bumpier with the latest reporting on OpenAI looking for ways to appease the White House.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Columbus isn’t going to just move a Norris Trophy winner to appease the player.

— Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 27 June 2026

Definition of appease

Verb

The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill on June 23 seeking to alleviate a growing housing crisis by streamlining construction regulations, encouraging local innovation, and limiting investor purchases of homes, among other steps.

— Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 24 June 2026
According to the European Commission, the duty-free de minimis exemption was introduced in order to alleviate administrative burdens for customs authorities and businesses, but the digitalization of customs procedures has ameliorated that issue.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

Cuas relieved pitcher Matt Strahm in the eighth inning and limited the Rays to just two hits and one run.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Malik Tillman was the hero, relieving the pressure of a 1-0 goal lead with just 10 men on the field with his brilliant free kick.

— Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of relieve

Verb

Rodríguez said on Saturday night that 24 countries had sent aid and more than 2,700 rescuers were in the country to help with search operations.

— Alfredo Meza, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Batches of limited stock sales will be allowed in the coming months, however, and some real estate agents and bankers are putting together workarounds to help expectant millionaires leverage their future gains to secure loans.

— Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of help

Verb

Share a meaningful story with a mentor or a relative far away, because seeing the bigger picture can soothe worries and recenter your priorities.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
The Pineapple Punch Hydrating Face Mask is a single-use, two-piece yellow hydrogel mask infused with ingredients that deliver hydration and soothing benefits.

— Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

While the care tax in the workplace largely falling on women’s shoulders is a systemic and a bias issue, there are some steps both individuals and organizations can take to help mitigate this trend.

— Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
In handing down the verdict, the judges said his actions ran counter to Indonesia’s anti-graft efforts and were carried out systematically, while noting as a mitigating factor that the former minister had no prior criminal conviction.

— Chandra Asmara, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Definition of mitigate

Verb

Despite hot, humid conditions, a respectable crowd has already gathered, with organizers expecting attendance to grow as temperatures ease later this evening.

— Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
This would let traffic flow, which is so necessary for the vitality and economy of Chicago; provide a safer route for bikers; and ease the frustration of all of those on the streets of Chicago.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026