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Mollify vs Nullify - What's the difference?

mollify | nullify |

As verbs the difference between mollify and nullify

is that mollify is to ease a burden, particularly worry; make less painful; to comfort while nullify is (legal) to make legally invalid.

mollify

English

Alternative forms

* mollifie

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To ease a burden, particularly worry; make less painful; to comfort.
  • * 1893 , (Henry George), The Condition of Labor: An Open Letter to Pope Leo XIII, p. 104:
  • *:All that charity can do where injustice exists is here and there to somewhat mollify the effects of injustice.
  • * 1997 , A Government Reinvented: A Study of Alberta's Deficit Elimination Program, p. 408:
  • *:The draft Charter School Handbook issued in November 1994 sought to mollify concerns over teacher quality, if not ATA membership, by requiring teacher certification.
  • To appease (anger), pacify, gain the good will of.
  • * 1867 , , chapter 2:
  • Although this invitation was accompanied with a curtsey that might have softened the heart of a church-warden, it by no means mollified the beadle.
  • * 1916 , , chapter 5:
  • The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he was addressed.
  • To soften; to make tender
  • * 1662 , , Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 113:
  • "Nor is it any more difficulty for him to mollifie what is hard, then it is to harden what is so soft and fluid as the Aire."
  • * 1724 , (William Burkitt), Expository Notes, with Practical Observations on the New Testament, p. 102:
  • *:By thy kindness thou wilt melt and mollify his spirit towards thee, as hardest metals are melted by coals of fire …
  • Synonyms

    * (to ease a burden) assuage, calm, comfort, mitigate, soothe * (to appease) appease, conciliate, pacify, placate, propitiate, satisfy * See also

    nullify

    English

    Verb

  • (legal) to make legally invalid.
  • The contract has been nullified .
  • to prevent from happening
  • Synonyms

    * (to make legally invalid) annul, cancel