1
as in encouraging
making one feel good inside
the comforting smell of fresh bread
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
a long comforting soak in a hot bath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reassurance
the giving of hope and strength in times of grief, distress, or suffering
the comforting of the sick has always been regarded as one of the major acts of charity
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in reassuring
to ease the grief or distress of
the first responders did their best to comfort the victims of the terrible tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of comforting
Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Maybe the pretense was comforting to him, too.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
After three days on the lam, Chesney was coaxed back with comforting voices and familiar scents.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
His voice is there as a comforting guide as is the physical iconography of his remarkable life.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Calabria’s food is both bold and comforting.
—Jenna Curcio, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Perhaps pasta or pizza with cheese is so comforting because we’re literally being mothered by flowering plants and bovines?
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
If All Creatures Great and Small is our cozy and comforting show in this unending hellscape, The Forsytes can be our escapist junk food.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Of course, formulaic crime dramas can be comforting.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
For quite some time, the repetitive daily schedule was comforting for a methodical person such as myself.
—Des Moines Register, 29 Mar. 2026
No, a restaurant where conviviality flows like a broken water main, and the food is rich, comforting and detonating with flavor.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
The Vatican released on Monday details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four-nation Africa tour, suggesting Christian-Muslim relations, comforting victims of violence and encouraging the Catholic community in former European colonies will be key themes.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Your domestic world is comforting.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Vandy’s star guard Tyler Tanner, who finished with 20, ran the length of the court smiling, unbothered, so often that Florida took to comforting him.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
The food's never been better with a lineup of comforting Italian/American dishes.
—The Providence Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s the one about afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 13 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
After three days on the lam, Chesney was coaxed back with comforting voices and familiar scents.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
His voice is there as a comforting guide as is the physical iconography of his remarkable life.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Calabria’s food is both bold and comforting.
—Jenna Curcio, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Perhaps pasta or pizza with cheese is so comforting because we’re literally being mothered by flowering plants and bovines?
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
If All Creatures Great and Small is our cozy and comforting show in this unending hellscape, The Forsytes can be our escapist junk food.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026
Of course, formulaic crime dramas can be comforting.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
The rescue dog from Huntington Beach, California, who worked as a dedicated therapy dog comforting veterans, was a five-time dog surfing world champion and was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2024, according to the Surfers' Hall of Fame website.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
For quite some time, the repetitive daily schedule was comforting for a methodical person such as myself.
—Des Moines Register, 29 Mar. 2026
No, a restaurant where conviviality flows like a broken water main, and the food is rich, comforting and detonating with flavor.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
The Vatican released on Monday details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four-nation Africa tour, suggesting Christian-Muslim relations, comforting victims of violence and encouraging the Catholic community in former European colonies will be key themes.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Your domestic world is comforting.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Vandy’s star guard Tyler Tanner, who finished with 20, ran the length of the court smiling, unbothered, so often that Florida took to comforting him.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
The food's never been better with a lineup of comforting Italian/American dishes.
—The Providence Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
There’s the one about afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comforting
Adjective
-
In a statement, Boulder police said encouraging victims and witnesses to come forward is critical to moving the investigation forward and preventing further harm.—
Jamie Leary,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Pacifica’s title aspirations in Crestview League softball received a few encouraging signs Thursday in another duel with Cypress.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
-
Social butterfly Venus is reaching from your reassurance zone to square powerhouse Pluto, currently in your sign!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Things turned sour despite reassurances that the data center would generate $5 million in annual revenue to support park maintenance, libraries and repairs without raising residential taxes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s reassuring for Federal Reserve policymakers, who pay close attention to people’s perception of prices, particularly over the long run.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
-
His mandate will be reassuring US consumers about the trajectory of their energy bills — gasoline is now nearly $4 per gallon on average nationwide, the highest level since 2023.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The brand is now repositioning itself as a lifestyle rewards program that goes beyond rewarding expenditures on rent to include broader housing expenses like mortgages.—
Katherine Fan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This excursion offers a rewarding ratio of natural wonders per miles driven.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The formula includes soothing hydrators such as glycerin, dimethicone, and glyceryl behenate, plus antioxidants (vitamin E and C derivatives) to help calm and protect the skin.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The design is modern and clean-lined with soaring peaked ceilings, lots of dark wood, soothing white and neutral accents and, importantly, private outdoor space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Several hundred Australian fuel stations are out of either gasoline or diesel despite Australian ministers assuring the public the market is well supplied.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
At his sentencing, Cooper recalls a prosecutor assuring her that oversight would not end with the judge’s sentence of 15 years' probation.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Inn stays shut during winter and ‘pack ice’ season, which some locals will tell you is the most beautiful time of all—for snowmobiling and snowshoeing through the Island’s interior by day, and come evening, getting invited into someone's warm shed for a tipple and a chat.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In 2001, the couple, who did not have children, retired to Miami in search of warmer beaches.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comforting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comforting. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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