YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

emollient

Adjective

IPA /ɪˈmɒliənt/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

Intended to calm anger or tension and keep relations friendly.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

emollient/ɪˈmɒliənt/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A discussion becomes tense
The chair responds in a soothing way
The tension begins to ease

An emollient response is intended to calm anger and preserve friendly relations.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

Her emollient words helped end the argument at dinner.
The chair adopted an emollient tone during the difficult meeting.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

Her ________ words helped end the argument at dinner.

Show the answer

emollient — Intended to calm anger or tension and keep relations friendly.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “emollient” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Intended to calm anger or tension and keep relations friendly.

Compare: Her emollient words helped end the argument at dinner.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin emollire, meaning soften, related to mollis, meaning soft.

Did you know?

Emollient also describes substances that soften skin; the calming-language meaning is figurative.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.