| English Dictionary |
MOLLIFY (mollified)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does mollify mean?
• MOLLIFY (verb)
The verb MOLLIFY has 3 senses:
1. cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
2. make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else
3. make less rigid or softer
Familiarity information: MOLLIFY used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it mollifies Past simple: mollified
Past participle: mollified
-ing form: mollifying
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
appease; assuage; conciliate; gentle; gruntle; lenify; mollify; pacify; placate
Context example:
She managed to mollify the angry customer
Hypernyms (to "mollify" is one way to...):
calm; calm down; lull; quiet; quieten; still; tranquilize; tranquillise; tranquillize (make calm or still)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The performance is likely to mollify Sue
Derivation:
mollification (the act of appeasing someone or causing someone to be more favorably inclined)
mollification (a state of being appeased or ameliorated or tempered)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Make more temperate, acceptable, or suitable by adding something else
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
moderate; mollify; season; temper
Context example:
she tempered her criticism
Hypernyms (to "mollify" is one way to...):
weaken (lessen the strength of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
mollification (the act of appeasing someone or causing someone to be more favorably inclined)
mollification (a state of being appeased or ameliorated or tempered)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Make less rigid or softer
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "mollify" is one way to...):
soften (make soft or softer)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Context examples
"That's better," was the mollified rejoinder.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Mr. Chillip was fluttered again, by the extreme severity of my aunt's manner; so he made her a little bow and gave her a little smile, to mollify her.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Such arguing and pleading and explaining before we could get them mollified!
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Amy smiled and was mollified at once, saying with a maternal air, Women should learn to be agreeable, particularly poor ones, for they have no other way of repaying the kindnesses they receive.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
"All right," the mollified usurer had replied.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
This information seemed to have a mollifying effect, and the irate young man favored Martin with a measuring stare.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
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