mollify

Mollify is a verb meaning to soften in temper or feelings, to appease or reduce the emotional intensity of something. It can also mean to mitigate or moderate harshness, or to calm, placate, or soothe a person or situation.

Etymology: from Latin mollificare "to make soft", from mollis "soft" + facere "to make". The word entered English via Old French mollifier, with senses related to softening or calming; it has been in standard use since the 16th century.

Usage examples: "to mollify a critic" or "to mollify anger by promises of reform" are common constructions. In negotiation or politics, a mollifier may be used to ease tensions or buy time. In some contexts, the term implies a temporary or calculated calming rather than lasting change, though this nuance depends on context.

Related terms include pacify, placate, soothe, appease, and mitigate. Mollify is distinct from modify, although the two resemble each other in spelling. The word is most often applied to emotions, temperaments, or rhetorical tone rather than physical processes.