as in comforting
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering
the responsibility for the consoling of the families of the firefighters fell to the mayor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in reassuring
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in assuring
to ease the grief or distress of
the military officer who must console the bereaved at a soldier's funeral
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of consoling
Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
In a way, that’s a consoling thought.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent studies show that while AI has at least some capacity to display empathy, people still prefer consoling messages from other humans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
On one occasion, backup goalkeeper Matt Turner, seated to Pulisic’s right, put his left arm around Pulisic and patted his back, consoling him.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
Thomson also talked about all the Phillies players consoling Kerkering after the game.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The issue is whether the focus remains, as promised, on celebrating the team’s victories (or consoling their defeats).
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Montgomery suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday, announcing the news of his impending surgery by posting a picture of Sonic consoling a crying Knuckles on his Instagram story.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
Ian, revved up by the camogie carnage and fresh off consoling Eva (eye emojis x2), takes it upon himself to tell Angelica in no uncertain terms to back off the Garvey sisters.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris' campaign manager and former state director in her Senate office, said the vice president uses her experience consoling victims as a courtroom prosecutor to connect with people after tragedies.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Certainly, the consoling notion surfaced quickly among the Chiefs after their 28-21 loss to Buffalo on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
—Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025
In a way, that’s a consoling thought.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Many of the players lingered on the field for long minutes after the game, consoling each other or talking to friends and family.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent studies show that while AI has at least some capacity to display empathy, people still prefer consoling messages from other humans.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
On one occasion, backup goalkeeper Matt Turner, seated to Pulisic’s right, put his left arm around Pulisic and patted his back, consoling him.
—Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2025
Thomson also talked about all the Phillies players consoling Kerkering after the game.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The issue is whether the focus remains, as promised, on celebrating the team’s victories (or consoling their defeats).
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
Montgomery suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday, announcing the news of his impending surgery by posting a picture of Sonic consoling a crying Knuckles on his Instagram story.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Dec. 2024
Ian, revved up by the camogie carnage and fresh off consoling Eva (eye emojis x2), takes it upon himself to tell Angelica in no uncertain terms to back off the Garvey sisters.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris' campaign manager and former state director in her Senate office, said the vice president uses her experience consoling victims as a courtroom prosecutor to connect with people after tragedies.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for consoling
Adjective
-
What Cheney offered Bush in 2000 was the reassuring gravitas of someone who knew Washington, had helped run the first Persian Gulf War and had prospered in the private sector, too.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Advertisement But the reality is less reassuring.—
Jonathan Portes,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Made with Jellycat’s signature soft and squeezable exterior, it comes filled with polyester fibers and PE (polyethylene) beans that give it a bit of comforting weight.—
Lauren Fischer,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Located in the heart of downtown, this small American bistro serves an extensive menu of comforting American fare.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Gorst’s 2nd place finish still came with the consolation of a $50,000 payday.—
Jeremy Herb,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Keith Cormican drew some consolation from not having to leave Bruce’s body in the cold river, unclaimed.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Entering a bedroom that’s painted a light blue color feels soothing and relaxing; a bathroom that’s a soft shade of green is pleasant to bathe in.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Looking for a relaxing way to escape the winter blues?—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The band released a statement assuring that Arcade Fire will continue despite the breakup.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Commerce and Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said a probe had been launched to determine the cause of the fire, while assuring businesses that the firefighting response had been immediate—with 37 units deployed to control the blaze.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Seven lawsuits filed this week in California allege that ordinary users seeking school help, spiritual reassurance, or simple conversation were instead drawn into psychologically damaging exchanges that ultimately preceded several suicides.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Repetition is connected with ritual and, by extension, with reassurance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The week wraps with the Virgo Moon taking over from November 13 to 15, bringing a calming wave of discernment; not the perfectionist kind, but the cleansing, clarifying kind.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
9 Nov. 2025
-
They’re weighted, with the small size weighing 3 pounds, providing a calming effect that can ease anxiety and lull you to sleep, according to shoppers.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Why not start things off by repainting the living room—there are many shades that designers absolutely love for their soothing factor.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Entering a bedroom that’s painted a light blue color feels soothing and relaxing; a bathroom that’s a soft shade of green is pleasant to bathe in.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Consoling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/consoling. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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