soothe

verb

soothed; soothing

transitive verb

1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: relieve, alleviate
soothe a cough
3
: to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to
music soothes the soul

intransitive verb

: to bring peace, composure, or quietude
soother noun

Examples of soothe in a Sentence

The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer. This cream soothes aching muscles. Her nerves were soothed by a warm bath. Nothing can soothe their pain.
Recent Examples on the Web It’s formulated with brightening mulberry extract, alongside soothing elderberry and evening primrose extracts. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Attached to the swing is a cute mobile with a plush star and monkey dangling from it, and the seat has a vibration setting to soothe your little one. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 Still, experts have a few general recs to soothe your stomach. Christine Byrne, Mph, SELF, 4 Mar. 2024 The product contains rosemary oil, which provides anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties to soothe irritated scalps and guard locks against environmental pollution, UV radiation, and bacteria, Dr. Green explains. Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024 Paramedics convicted in Elijah McClain’s death McClain — a massage therapist who played violin at a local shelter to soothe the animals — was walking home in August 2019. María Paúl, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Fans of skin care and armchair beauty experts on TikTok are singing its praises as a miracle treatment for a broad range of issues, such as soothing rosacea and psoriasis and minimizing the appearance of acne scars. Sophia Panych, Allure, 29 Feb. 2024 Blinken eventually made the trip in June to try to soothe rising tensions over a number of issues, including the balloon and the Chinese military's assertiveness in the South China Sea. Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2024 The soothing sound of flowing water creates a pleasant white noise backdrop, making this fountain a fantastic addition to your space. Anna Smoot, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soothe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sothen to verify, from Old English sōthian, from sōth

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of soothe was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near soothe

Cite this Entry

“Soothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soothe. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

soothe

verb
soothed; soothing
1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: alleviate, relieve
the lotion soothed his sunburn
3
: to bring comfort : calm down
music soothes the soul

More from Merriam-Webster on soothe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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