Vilify vs Mollify - What's the difference?
vilify | mollify |
To say defamatory things about someone or something.
To belittle through speech; to put down.
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,
*: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,
*: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:
* 1916 , , chapter 5:
To soften; to make tender
* 1662 , , Book III, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 113:
* 1724 , (William Burkitt), Expository Notes, with Practical Observations on the New Testament,
*:By thy kindness thou wilt melt and mollify his spirit towards thee, as hardest metals are melted by coals of fire …
As verbs the difference between vilify and mollify
is that vilify is to say defamatory things about someone or something while mollify is to ease a burden, particularly worry; make less painful; to comfort.vilify
English
Verb
(en-verb)Synonyms
* (say defamatory things about) assail, criticize, decry, denounce, libel, slander * berate * See alsomollify
English
Alternative forms
* mollifieVerb
(en-verb)p. 104:
p. 408:
- 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.
- The angry goat was quite mollified by the respectful tone in which he was addressed.
- "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."
p. 102: