soothe

verb

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\ ˈsüt͟h

soothed; soothing

Definition of soothe

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

Other Words from soothe Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about soothe

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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 Dip your toes into Ulta's new Conscious Beauty section with select products on sale from brands like Indie Lee, Kinship, and Grown Alchemist, or stock up on the cult favorite First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream to soothe your winter skin. — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, "Ulta Sale 2021: The Best 50% Off Deals From the Love Your Skin Event," 5 Jan. 2021 Don't forget to soothe your skin with pre-shave gel and aftershave balm. — Bob Beacham, chicagotribune.com, "The best shave kit," 22 Dec. 2020 Another rescue dog, a beagle/terrier mix, helped soothe the ache after Mitty died. — Washington Post, "Traveling through the pandemic in the company of dogs," 18 Dec. 2020 Nikolaj crawls home after a Rabelaisian binge, makes it to the bedroom, and tries, in vain, to use a baby monitor as a Breathalyzer; Peter, for his part, advises a fretful pupil to soothe his nerves with a drink before an oral exam. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, "Planned Alcoholism in “Another Round” and Weaponized Camp in “The Prom”," 11 Dec. 2020 Last month, the People's Bank of China injected one trillion yuan ($153 billion) worth of loans into markets to ease the stress on liquidity and soothe the nerves of investors. — Laura He, CNN, "Chinese state-owned companies are in trouble. That could hurt the global recovery," 9 Dec. 2020 Others have obsessively tracked polls to soothe their nerves, or bought guns, or researched moving abroad, or retreated to a cabin in the woods. — Claire Galofaro, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Raw exposed nerves’: An anxious nation awaits Election Day and its aftermath," 2 Nov. 2020 In the week leading up to the first match of the NWSL Fall Series, Orlando Pride rookie Courtney Petersen needed to soothe her nerves. — Julia Poe, orlandosentinel.com, "Orlando Pride push rookie defenders to improve after Houston loss," 27 Sep. 2020 Relaxing scents of lavender and chamomile combine with an array of crystals in this handmade candle to soothe and quiet the mind. — Naveen Kumar, CNN Underscored, "19 gifts for the astrology-obsessed person in your life," 10 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soothe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near soothe

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Last Updated

10 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Soothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soothe. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for soothe

soothe

verb

English Language Learners Definition of soothe

: to cause (someone) to be calmer, less angry, etc.

: to cause (a part of the body) to feel better

: to cause (pain) to go away or become less severe

See the full definition for soothe in the English Language Learners Dictionary

soothe

verb

\ ˈsüt͟h

soothed; soothing

Kids Definition of soothe

1 : to please by praise or attention The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer.

2 : relieve sense 1 Lotion will soothe your sunburn.

3 : to calm down : comfort Papa was trying to soothe Mama, who was wheezing heavily from asthma and excitement.— George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square

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