To mollify someone means to calm them down or make them less angry, usually by saying or doing something soothing.

When your younger sibling is upset because they can't have a cookie before dinner, you might try to mollify them by promising to play their favorite game after they eat. When a customer complains loudly at a store, a smart manager tries to mollify them with an apology and perhaps a refund or discount.

Mollifying someone requires understanding what upset them and responding in a way that addresses their feelings. Simply saying “calm down” rarely mollifies anyone (it usually makes things worse!). But genuinely listening, apologizing if appropriate, or offering a reasonable solution can work well.

Teachers mollify worried students before big tests by reviewing the material one more time. Parents mollify anxious children with reassurance. Diplomats spend much of their careers trying to mollify leaders from different countries who disagree about important issues.

The word suggests a deliberate effort to smooth things over and restore peace. When you successfully mollify someone, you've turned down the temperature of their emotions and helped them feel heard and respected.