emollient
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
softening or soothing, esp to the skin
-
helping to avoid confrontation; calming
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of emollient
First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin ēmollient- (stem of ēmolliēns ) “softening up” (present participle of ēmollīre ), equivalent to ē- intensive prefix + molli(s) “soft” + -ent- noun and adjective suffix; see e- 1, -ent
Explanation
An emollient is a cream or ointment with a thick, gooey texture. When your hands are dry and cracked in the winter, you probably apply an emollient to make them softer. Emollient comes from a Latin word with the same spelling, which means “to make soft.” The noun form of emollient refers to a substance that makes something soft. However, emollient can also be an adjective used to describe something with a softening or soothing effect. For example, the annoying child on the airplane might be soothed by the emollient sound of the pilot’s voice over the intercom.
Vocabulary lists containing emollient
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Candide
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, in what would be a major policy shift, he has also said he would take a less emollient tone toward President Trump, whom his predecessor sought to cultivate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Some incorporate tallow with other emollient ingredients to make their own natural moisturizer.
From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2025
So, they might want someone more, shall we say, emollient than Florida’s governor.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 24, 2023
Expect the prime minister's language today to be emollient.
From BBC ● May 16, 2022
This underscored Bush’s esteem for the breadth of Lawrence’s scientific knowledge and his emollient managerial technique.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
