mollify
Take edge off
To mollify is to soothe or calm someone who is angry or upset: She tried to mollify the frustrated customer with a refund.
The word suggests softening hostility or reducing agitation, often through concessions or gentle words.
A mollifying gesture aims to pacify rather than confront: His apology did little to mollify her.
To calm agitation
- propitiateRegain favor through offerings
- placateLessen someone's anger
- conciliateCalm hostile feelings
- assuageRelieve or calm
allay · defuse · quell · disarm · reconcile · ameliorate · alleviate · mitigate
Free from agitation
- comfortEase or soothing relief
- consoleComfort in distress
- reassureEase someone's doubts
- easeLack of strain
relieve · tranquilize · lull · quiet · sedate · settle · still · gentle
State of mind
- moderateLessen intensity or preside
- bluntDull or tactlessly direct
- cushionStuffed fabric for comfort
- lessenReduce in degree
reduce · dampen · dull · mute · dilute · weaken · gentle · ease
Meant to placate
- peacemakingResolving conflicts through negotiation
- mediatingFacilitating conflict resolution
- negotiatingDiscussing to reach agreement
- bridge-buildingEstablishing connections between estranged parties
tactful · accommodating · compromising · harmonizing · fence-mending · olive-branch · goodwill · arbitrating
pacify
To calm agitation
- propitiateRegain favor through offerings
- placateLessen someone's anger
- conciliateCalm hostile feelings
assuage · allay · defuse · quell · disarm · reconcile · ameliorate · alleviate · mitigate · temper
calm
Free from agitation
ease · relieve · tranquilize · lull · quiet · sedate · settle · still · gentle · salve
temper
State of mind
lessen · reduce · dampen · dull · mute · dilute · weaken · gentle · ease · lighten
conciliatory
Meant to placate
- peacemakingResolving conflicts through negotiation
- mediatingFacilitating conflict resolution
- negotiatingDiscussing to reach agreement
bridge-building · tactful · accommodating · compromising · harmonizing · fence-mending · olive-branch · goodwill · arbitrating · interceding
- calmingcalm, calm down, soothe, relax, pacify
- persuasion tacticscharm, butter up, flattery, flatter, coax
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- sugarcoatingsweeten, soften, gloss over, whitewash, soft-pedal
mollifyinflame
Intensify emotion or irritation
enflame · exacerbate · incite · provoke · antagonize
emollient, mollifying, mollified, emollients, mollification, mollifies