as in conciliatory
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility
a future son-in-law using mollifying flattery to overcome a bad first impression
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in appeasing
to lessen the anger or agitation of
an apology would probably mollify your friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alleviating
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mollifying
David Moin, Footwear News, 30 Nov. 2025
Verb
By many accounts retailers were pleased with their level of business Thanksgiving Day through Saturday, mollifying some concerns that higher prices and economic uncertainties would put a big dent in holiday spending.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mollifying
Adjective
-
Yet, as uproar over the shooting grew, videos of the incident spread and the administration's narrative unraveled, the White House changed course and adopted a more conciliatory approach.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
30 Jan. 2026
-
At his press conference to preview Saturday’s game against West Ham, Nuno struck a more conciliatory tone.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Newsom seems to have recognized that appeasing California’s Democrats puts him out of step with the country.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.—
Riley Gaines OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Patient perspectives are core components of how benefits, harms, and proportionality are assessed, particularly for interventions aimed at alleviating suffering and improving quality of life.—
Amy Caruso Brown,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Picture a bunch of people descending in private jets to eat steak and appear on panels about alleviating poverty and fighting climate change (among other noble goals), while clinking cocktail glasses with other fellow rich people in an effort to make one another even richer.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In a social, psychological context, Masli is a facilitator, a quirky social worker with a golden leg for an arm, an upswept hairstyle that’s half hair and half hat, a makeshift blue gown that might’ve once been a blanket and a soft-spoken soothing presence.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Being loved does not always feel soothing.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Above those words was a video of a masked vandal adding a scatological element to the billboard, a suggestion that the first lady — ad shown in the ad — is relieving herself on an American flag.—
Eve Batey,
Vanity Fair,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Its hundreds of pressure points help stimulate circulation, relieving tension and loosening muscles.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The polysaccharides found in certain species, such as snow mushroom (Tremella fuciformis), work in a similar way to hyaluronic acid by helping the skin attract and maintain moisture while supporting the skin barrier.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Those characterizations outraged his family and Democratic politicians, who pointed to bystander videos showing Pretti helping a woman who had been pushed by an ICE agent and holding only his camera.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The couple's daughter recalled a warm and comforting childhood.—
Nicole Nielsen,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the behaviors most strongly associated with deep, durable love don’t feel comforting in the moment at all.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Many African Americans watching protests calling for easing restrictions meant to slow the spread of the new coronavirus see them as one more example of how their health, their safety and their rights just don't seem to matter.—
Ernie Suggs,
AJC.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Now, authorities are stepping in to slow the flow, introducing new restrictions aimed at curbing day-trip tourism and easing pressure on the village.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mollifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mollifying. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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