soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h 

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

Synonyms of soothe

• reassure
• assure
• comfort

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

The actress and mom of two recently took to her Instagram Stories to share a series of videos highlighting a trend some parents are using to help soothe their toddlers’ tantrums. —Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

Nobody eats Taco Bell to soothe their belly. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026

The cooling applicator feels oh-so-soothing and the primer’s slight tint adds an additional brightening effect around my eyes. —Cathy Nelson, InStyle, 9 Apr. 2026

As a result, vaguebooking becomes a passive-aggressive pacifier to soothe the discomfort of explicitly addressing disagreements and communicating one’s feelings. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for soothe

• smooth

Kids Definition

soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h 

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