Word of the Day - 11/23/25
mollify
/'mɑlɪ,faɪ/(v.): to soothe in temper or disposition
He tried to mollify her with a sincere apology after their argument.
(v.): make less rigid or intense
The government sought to mollify the impact of the new taxes by offering several exemptions.
Word Origin
The word 'mollify' originates from the Late Latin 'mollificare', meaning 'to make soft'. It is formed from the Latin word 'mollis', meaning 'soft', and the combining form '-ficare', derived from 'facere', meaning 'to make'. Thus, 'mollify' literally means 'to make soft' or 'to soften'.
Words with similar origins, specifically from the Latin root 'mollis' ('soft'), include 'emollient', referring to a substance that softens or soothes, and 'mollusk', named for its soft body.
Sunday Special
As a reminder, here are all of the words from this week:
environs
indolence
lionize
abstruse palinode penchant
mollify
abstruse palinode penchant
mollify
See if you can remember all of this week's words! Here is a sentence that includes all seven, followed by a version that simplifies them to help you remember:
With a penchant for indolence, the art critic, who used to lionize avant-garde artists, found the abstruse symbolism within the gallery's environs increasingly tiresome, eventually publishing a palinode to mollify those he had previously offended with his uncritical praise.Having a strong liking for laziness, the art critic, who used to praise highly avant-garde artists, found the complex symbolism within the gallery's surroundings increasingly tiresome, eventually publishing a retraction to calm those he had previously offended with his uncritical praise.