as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
a calming glass of warm milk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in soothing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in lulling
to free from distress or disturbance
the president's reassuring words did much to calm the public during the national emergency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of
he calmed himself before continuing the eulogy
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Recent Examples of calming
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Some people are looking for something social; others want something functional and calming.
—Jeff Burkhart, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
With the former sitting at a prestige price point and the latter no longer on shelves, many fragrance fans have been left searching for new ways to get their fix of the calming, slightly creamy green tea note.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Scheider is usually the calming referee, especially important when interchanges between the other two threaten to get physical.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
From hidden storage to natural materials, here are a few design strategies that experts recommend for a cleaner, more calming room.
—Adrienne Jordan, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The lack of spoken words gives it a calming, quietly intense quality.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
In the brain, glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and affects NMDA receptors, which promote a calming, sleep-friendly state of mind.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 10 Feb. 2026
Consistency can provide calming visuals, but Wells advises steering clear of perfection.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
This blue-and-ivory area rug brings in a soft, calming palette without feeling too bold.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Older dogs can be calming and require fewer walks.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Each session includes gentle stretches, calming breath work and mindful movement to help ease your pregnancy.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Magnesium helps regulate cortisol, supports melatonin production and activates GABA, the calming neurotransmitter system.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Many people use sound machines featuring rain sounds to create calming environments at home or in the office.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
The room, lit with flameless candles and a calming blue light, is the perfect space for folks from all walks of life to decompress in the middle of their hectic work week.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Beyond YouTube, many people use sound machines featuring rain sounds to create a calming environment at home or in the office.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The whole vibe is so considered and so calming.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Some people are looking for something social; others want something functional and calming.
—Jeff Burkhart, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
With the former sitting at a prestige price point and the latter no longer on shelves, many fragrance fans have been left searching for new ways to get their fix of the calming, slightly creamy green tea note.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026
Scheider is usually the calming referee, especially important when interchanges between the other two threaten to get physical.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Mar. 2026
From hidden storage to natural materials, here are a few design strategies that experts recommend for a cleaner, more calming room.
—Adrienne Jordan, Martha Stewart, 5 Mar. 2026
The lack of spoken words gives it a calming, quietly intense quality.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
In the brain, glycine acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and affects NMDA receptors, which promote a calming, sleep-friendly state of mind.
—Jenna Anderson, Health, 10 Feb. 2026
Consistency can provide calming visuals, but Wells advises steering clear of perfection.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
There is self-regulation going on in the initial stages of spiritual development, and this is where calming does come into play.
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Modernizing Baltimore's infrastructure Nearly $300 million would be used for transportation improvements under the proposal, including for traffic calming, resurfacing, ADA compliance, traffic signals and more.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
This blue-and-ivory area rug brings in a soft, calming palette without feeling too bold.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Older dogs can be calming and require fewer walks.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Each session includes gentle stretches, calming breath work and mindful movement to help ease your pregnancy.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Magnesium helps regulate cortisol, supports melatonin production and activates GABA, the calming neurotransmitter system.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Many people use sound machines featuring rain sounds to create calming environments at home or in the office.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
The room, lit with flameless candles and a calming blue light, is the perfect space for folks from all walks of life to decompress in the middle of their hectic work week.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Beyond YouTube, many people use sound machines featuring rain sounds to create a calming environment at home or in the office.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calming
Adjective
-
Others use kratom to self-treat chronic pain, to get a relaxing high or to self-treat mental health issues such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
-
And for me, there’s no better detour in Europe than visiting a public bath or spa for a relaxing, good soak.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This Burt’s Bees set has six travel-sized mani-pedi essentials, including a soothing foot cream and buttery hand salve that protects dry, chapped skin.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Combining a sound machine with a comfortable bedroom setup can mimic the soothing experience of being outdoors in a safe, dry tent during a rainstorm, providing both comfort and sensory grounding, according to Gorovoy.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Through a red chain-link curtain is a back room containing the likes of Screw, Al Goldstein’s erotic tabloid from the sixties and seventies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Jupiter-esque planet known as TOI-5205 b is the first exoplanet of its kind with an atmosphere containing far fewer heavy elements than similarly sized objects, as well as its own red dwarf star.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Glamp or camp under the starry skies with Lake Superior's waves lulling you to sleep at Grand Marais Recreation Area or Pincushion Mountain Haus.—
Joie Probst,
Midwest Living,
25 Jan. 2026
-
While Boyle’s iPhone camera rigs zipped and zoomed around the landscape with an almost game-like mobility, Bobbitt’s camera shakes with zombie rage and then stills, lulling us in and out of violence and peace.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For the film’s score, Hardcastle reached out to Nathan Williams, the main singer-songwriter of the indie rock band Wavves, along with his producer Aaron Rubin, and the two worked on composing a soundtrack filled with stirring strings and harsh metallic screeches.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
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Musical duo Ajay–Atul are composing the score, while cinematographer Santosh Sivan is handling the visuals.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Both Tehran and Washington are pushing their own comforting versions of reality.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of the key lessons UConn’s veterans took from last year’s championship run was the importance of focus, of quieting the noise that surrounds the bracket and the program’s unmatched legacy of success.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Kimmel quotes from one popular manual, published in 1916, that advised quieting a crying baby by flipping it over and administering a vigorous spanking.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calming. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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