soothe

verb

\ 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

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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

This can help soothe any pain, dial down redness and keep scabbing under control. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, ""I Have a Cold Sore. Does That Mean I Have Herpes?"," 22 Feb. 2019 The November meeting between Messrs. Trump and Xi may help soothe tensions on trade but there appears little prospect the new U.S. stance will soften. — Jeremy Page, WSJ, "U.S. Edges Toward New Cold-War Era With China," 13 Oct. 2018 This ultra-gentle gel mask rom Peter Thomas Roth can help soothe dry skin and promises to reduce the look of puffiness. — Allure, "There's a Major Sale on Sunday Riley Skin Care Right Now," 4 Oct. 2018 For example, yoga helps to soothe your nervous system, in part because the practice centers so much on breathing. — Sarah Richards, Woman's Day, "Quiet Your Mind in Anxious Times With These Expert Tricks," 14 Aug. 2018 His involvement with the opposition helped soothe voters’ fears of possible chaos under a new government. — Washington Post, "Ex-Malaysia leader’s arrest part of a swift fall from grace," 3 July 2018 Despite Mahathir being mocked by Najib for his old age and authoritarian record, his reputation as a statesman who transformed a Southeast Asian backwater into a modern economy helped soothe voters' fears of possible chaos under a new government. — Eileen Ng, The Christian Science Monitor, "New Malaysian government offers hope for simmering ethnic tensions," 23 May 2018 Thomas takes a similar approach, priding herself on being a profound listener, offering sessions that are multidisciplinary in approach, helping the mother-to-be connect deeper with her intuition and her baby, while soothing the nervous system. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "6 Ways a Doula Can Transform the Birthing Process for Moms-to-Be," 30 Apr. 2019 My newfound interest is in many ways uncomplicated: routine is soothing in chaotic times. — Rachel Vorona Cote, SELF, "Why I Embraced Skin Care After My Mother's Death," 18 Apr. 2019

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

Statistics for soothe

Last Updated

22 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for soothe

The first known use of soothe was in 1617

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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