mollify
UK: ˈmɒl.ɪ.faɪ | US: ˈmɑː.lɪ.faɪ
vt. to calm or soothe someone’s anger or distress
vt. to soften or reduce the intensity of something
The word mollify traces back to Latin mollis (soft) combined with -ficare (to make). It entered Middle English via Old French mollifier, retaining the core idea of "making soft"—both literally (softening substances) and figuratively (softening emotions). The logic is straightforward: to "mollify" is to "make gentle" or "soften tension."
She tried to mollify her upset child with a hug.
The manager mollified the angry customer by offering a refund.
His apology did little to mollify her hurt feelings.
The government introduced small reforms to mollify public unrest.
A warm cup of tea can mollify stress after a long day.