comforter

noun

com·​fort·​er ˈkəm(p)-fər-tər How to pronounce comforter (audio)
ˈkəm(p)-fə-tər
1
a
capitalized : holy spirit
b
: one that gives comfort
2
a
: a long narrow usually knitted neck scarf
b
: a thick bed covering made of two layers of cloth containing a filling (such as down)

Examples of comforter in a Sentence

He was her longtime confidant and comforter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, Crews has just set up a comforter in his son's room instead. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025 But hope is a dangerous comforter in times like these. Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2025 The two have slightly different functions (and cleaning routines—here’s how to clean a comforter) but the terms are often, mistakenly, used interchangeably. Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 31 May 2025 But the blanket is still warm enough for winter use with another comforter thrown on top. Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for comforter

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confortour, comfortour, borrowed from Anglo-French confortur, comfortour, from conforter, comforter "to strengthen spiritually, comfort entry 1" + -ur, -our -er entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of comforter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Comforter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comforter. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

comforter

noun
com·​fort·​er ˈkəm(p)-fə(r)t-ər How to pronounce comforter (audio)
1
: one that gives comfort
2
: a long narrow neck scarf
3

More from Merriam-Webster on comforter

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