salve

1 of 3

noun

ˈsav How to pronounce salve (audio)
ˈsäv,
ˈsalv,
ˈsälv
1
: an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
2
: a remedial or soothing influence or agency
a salve to their hurt feelings

salve

2 of 3

verb (1)

salved; salving

transitive verb

1
: to remedy (something, such as disease) with or as if with a salve
2
: quiet, assuage
give him a raise in salary to salve his feelingsUpton Sinclair

salve

3 of 3

verb (2)

salved; salving
salvor
ˈsal-vər How to pronounce salve (audio)
-ˌvȯr
noun

Examples of salve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The City of Baths, also known for its rambunctious ruin bars, has for centuries beckoned travelers with a salve for their ailments. Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024 In the early weeks of the war, Ukrainians found salve in dark absurdist humor. Nicola Fegg, The New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2024 Seize the opportunity to get the fast-absorbing salve, which is loaded with skin-loving ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide NP. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023 Their vow, taken in the Californian farm during the summer of 2018, marked the beginning of a dedicated effort to educate and serve their community, offering classes on creating salves and pure vegetable oil. Javier Hasse, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Skin type: With a skin-quenching formulation, the rose-scented cream is a salve for dry skin in particular. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2024 For Mika’s grandmother, community is a salve for life’s wounds. Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024 Green is a salve on defense whose reinsertion could, at least, solidify some lineups. Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024 Battery-swapping ventures like Yamaha’s will also put salve on pain points related to the rapidly growing presence of compact EVs. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
For the very voters who are feeling left out of Biden’s to-do list—young voters, voters of color, women—Ocasio-Cortez may be what salves those worries. TIME, 16 Feb. 2024 Perhaps curling up and reading a book can salve the sting. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023 Her selection to the Jamaican national team helped salve that disappointment. Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2023 But her ministrations aren’t quite enough to salve the imperial insecurities, as unrest threatens to unravel man and state. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021 Instead, the author’s emphasis is more contemporary and results-oriented: Why, for instance, might the Jewish practice of covering mirrors salve the sting of grief? Matthew Hutson, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2021 His reappearance carries grave risks not only for Bolsonaro, who is facing multiple criminal inquiries and the possibility of arrest on a wide range of alleged wrongdoing, but also for Brazil, whose barely salved political wounds Bolsonaro’s inflammatory politicking could reopen. Marina Dias, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2023 Officials and analysts hope the deal will give Israel more security, allow Lebanon greater leeway in the future to salve its crippling energy and financial crises, and provide Europe with a potential new source of gas amid energy shortages caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Patrick Kingsley, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2022 Both are plenty smart, and as in most good partnerships (and good marriages), their respective strengths salve their weaknesses, while their long history prevents serious friction. Randall Lane, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'salve.' 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

Noun

Middle English, from Old English sealf; akin to Old High German salba salve, Greek olpē oil flask

Verb (2)

back-formation from salvage

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salve was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near salve

Cite this Entry

“Salve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salve. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

salve

1 of 2 noun
ˈsav How to pronounce salve (audio)
ˈsȧv
: a healing ointment

salve

2 of 2 verb
salved; salving
: to ease or soothe with or as if with a salve

Medical Definition

salve

noun
ˈsav How to pronounce salve (audio) ˈsäv How to pronounce salve (audio) ˈsȧv How to pronounce salve (audio)
ˈsalv,
ˈsälv
: an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores

More from Merriam-Webster on salve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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