MAH-lih-fy
Definition
(verb) To appease or soothe someone’s anger or anxiety; to soften or calm.
Example
The manager tried to mollify the frustrated customer by offering a full refund and sincere apology.
Word Origin
Late Middle English: from French “mollifier” or Latin “mollificare,” from “mollis” meaning “soft.”
Fun Fact
Mollify literally means “to make soft,” and this softening applies to emotions rather than physical objects. Diplomats and customer service representatives are professional mollifiers, trained to transform anger into acceptance. The word shares its root with “mollusk” (soft-bodied creatures) and “emollient” (skin softeners). Interestingly, you can mollify someone without actually solving their problem—sometimes people just need their feelings acknowledged. Ancient rhetoricians studied mollification as an essential persuasive technique, recognizing that softening opposition often matters more than winning arguments.