Emollient
What it means
Soothing or softening, literally to skin or figuratively to tense relations.
Reach for it when praising language or treatment that gently reduces irritation
His emollient reply lowered the temperature of the meeting.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
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everyday
softening
Fits when making tissue, tone, or attitude less harsh is literal
Careful Softening may weaken resolve and lacks emollient's soothing implication.
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warm
Fits when easing pain, irritation, or distress is central
Careful Soothing is broader and can calm through sound without softening anything.
-
professional
Fits when words actively reduce interpersonal hostility
Careful Conciliatory does not fit a cream or physical treatment.
-
professional
Fits when tact preserves a working relationship
Careful Diplomatic may be strategic rather than genuinely soothing.
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formal
mollifying
Fits when calming an offended person is the intended effect
Careful Mollifying can imply placation and is not natural for skin care.
-
literary
balm-like
Fits when relief feels gentle and healing
Careful The comparison is poetic and may imply healing not established by evidence.
Opposites 4
- irritating
- abrasive
- inflammatory
- harsh
Common phrases 3
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emollient effect
The revised wording had an emollient effect on the dispute.
-
emollient cream
The nurse applied an emollient cream to protect the dry skin.
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emollient language
Emollient language created space for a practical compromise.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
The figurative sense concerns calming language; it does not make a medical claim.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: EncycloPetey, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated