- to pacify; soothe
- to lessen the harshness or severity of
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mol•li•fy /ˈmɑləˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fied, -fy•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to cause to calm down:The lollipop seemed to mollify the crying child.
- to reduce:to mollify one's demands.
mol•li•fy
(mol′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v.t., -fied, -fy•ing.
mol′li•fi•ca′tion, n.
mol′li•fi′er, n.
mol′li•fy′ing•ly, adv.
mol′li•fi′a•ble, adj.
- to soften in feeling or temper, as a person;
pacify;
appease. - to mitigate or reduce;
soften:to mollify one's demands.
- Late Latin mollificāre, equivalent. to Latin molli(s) soft + -ficāre -fy
- Middle French mollifier
- Middle English 1350–1400
mol′li•fi′er, n.
mol′li•fy′ing•ly, adv.
mol′li•fi′a•ble, adj.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mollify /ˈmɒlɪˌfaɪ/ vb ( -fies, -fying, -fied) (transitive)
'mollify' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):