soothe

play

verb \ˈsüth\

Definition of soothe

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

See soothe defined for English-language learners

See soothe defined for kids

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 of soothe from the Web

The humming of a box fan can be soothing, as can soft music.

— robert cadwallader, star-telegram, "Fireworks 101: Where to watch, where to buy and how to keep your dog safe", 29 June 2017
The beverage was originally made from rom a tonic formulated by Selma pharmacist Ashby Coleman to soothe upset stomachs.

— AL.com, "13 things you might not know about Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale", 13 June 2017
S&P Global Ratings soothed any fears about financial-collapse scenarios, judging that the nation’s banks could survive even if funds from all other Gulf nations disappeared.

— luke kawa, Bloomberg.com, "Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day", 11 June 2017
Music is often said to soothe the soul, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra has commissioned a work to commemorate the tragedy.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Pulse tragedy gives new layers to Orlando's arts scene", 9 June 2017
The sting will be soothed a bit for some of the Yahoo employees who lose their jobs:

— vindu goel, New York Times, "Verizon to Lay Off 2,100 Employees After Finalizing Yahoo Deal", 8 June 2017
For the moment, the administration has defaulted to a position of doing little to try to soothe the health insurance industry even as many insurers warn that federal actions — or inaction — could aggravate the situation.

— juliet eilperin, Washington Post, "White House touts the ACA’s demise even as insurers seek help in stabilizing its marketplace", 7 June 2017
Rustic wood tables, Old Chicago brick, pizza oven, soothing lighting and a generally unobtrusive noise level make for a satisfying sensorial experience.

— kendall hamersly, miamiherald, "First date, Marlins game, happy happy hour: This restaurant caters to all of them", 31 May 2017
A lot of fidget spinner sellers advertise the toys as a way to soothe and improve focus for kids and adults with ADHD, autism and anxiety.

— jennifer larino, NOLA.com, "What is a fidget spinner? 8 things to know about the latest toy fad", 31 May 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of soothe

Middle English sothen to verify, from Old English sōthian, from sōth

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First Known Use: 1617

See Words from the same year

SOOTHE Defined for English Language Learners

soothe

play

verb

Definition of soothe for English Language Learners

: 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

SOOTHE Defined for Kids

soothe

play

verb \ˈsüth\

Definition of soothe for Students

soothed

;

soothing

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