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

as in to appease

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The Israeli said that Netanyahu had done so to mollify internal critics pushing for the release of the hostages. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Netflix’s decision back then was in part aimed at mollifying shareholders, who at the time were flipping out over a slowdown in subscriber growth. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 1 July 2026 Comcast executives needed to make a bolder move to mollify frustrated investors. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The vote was largely symbolic but appeared to mollify the president, who earlier in the day canceled a ceremonial signing of a bipartisan housing bill to exert pressure on the Senate to pass an unrelated election law bill. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mollify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollify

Verb

To appease the public, Tribune editors printed two Annie strips — plus a front-page apology.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
In addition, the belief that hip-hop artists are required to acquiesce and musically circumscribe themselves to appease mainstream audiences is archaic in many respects.

— Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of appease

Verb

Beyond alleviating school traffic and stadium congestion, the project serves as a major utility corridor.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Eric Talley, a law professor at Columbia University and corporate law expert, told CNBC that a merger could alleviate shareholders' worries about where Musk is spending his time and his companies' resources.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of alleviate

Verb

Zaylee Ovington and Kynslee Black, eighth grade students at the school, said they are relieved Simons has moved away from primarily using Chromebooks.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
This can involve releasing residual propellant, relieving pressure, and discharging or disconnecting batteries to reduce the risk of accidental explosions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of relieve

Verb

Representatives from Qatar, which has helped mediate negotiations between Washington and Tehran, also traveled to the Iranian capital on Sunday, Reuters reported.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Cocoa prices have dropped in the last year, but relief is coming too late to help prices for this Halloween, said David Branch, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of help

Verb

The decor hits just the right amount of nautical; soothing blues and greens abound, as do a mix of textures and prints that feel right at home in the New England setting.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
Advertisement Calm the scary feeling When fright takes hold, breathing techniques like 4-7-8 breathing or box breathing can soothe your nervous system.

— Juli Fraga, Time, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of soothe

Verb

The fear of effeminization has never felt so acute, which presumably is why Matt Damon’s Odysseus needed bulging muscles, to ensure his sensitivity was mitigated by pecs of steel.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
This month, the council held a nine-hour hearing to debate tax proposals, including the BAT, as the council attempts to mitigate budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2028.

— Irit Skulnik, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of mitigate

Verb

The plan is to find candidates from families that renounced their royal status in 1947, which at the time was to ease the postwar financial burden on the monarchy.

— Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Reports have also eased slightly, with about half occurring in the first two months.

— Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of ease

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mollifies

mollify

mollifying

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“Mollify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollify. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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