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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of calming
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
Third-year senior batterymate Caroline Ozman is a calming presence with a big bat, and sophomore speedster Ava Davenport (second base) has pop.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
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
Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
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
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Much of the rally has been due to expectations for calming tensions in the war and a resumption of the full flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Much of the rally has been due to expectations for calming tensions in the war and a resumption of the full flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Keeping counters clear creates a cleaner, more organized, and visually calming kitchen space.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 Apr. 2026
The spacious brick carriage house, which dates back to the 1800s, offers a calming respite from the business of downtown Charleston.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Best Restaurants Sabay Bar Enjoying a prime location on White Sand Beach, this bar and restaurant puts out cozy chairs and tables directly on the sand at sunset, and colorful handmade light fixtures hang from the mangrove trees to provide a calming glow as dusk falls.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
The interiors showcase a calming neutral palette, with natural stone and wood playing against glass.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
Turn your porch into a calming oasis with twinkling fairy lights, or upgrade your front yard with in-ground pathway lighting or solar sconces.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Bednar owns a ring and has established himself as a calming influence.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
Third-year senior batterymate Caroline Ozman is a calming presence with a big bat, and sophomore speedster Ava Davenport (second base) has pop.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
But the only peace on Concrète Waves is the occasional pullback, a calming of the storm rather than the coming of a resolution.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
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
All three releases belong to a rapidly expanding category of interactive entertainment that’s defined less by compelling characters and storylines than the calming effect of creating and organizing a functional system.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Much of the rally has been due to expectations for calming tensions in the war and a resumption of the full flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide through the Strait of Hormuz.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Much of the rally has been due to expectations for calming tensions in the war and a resumption of the full flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
Keeping counters clear creates a cleaner, more organized, and visually calming kitchen space.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 13 Apr. 2026
The spacious brick carriage house, which dates back to the 1800s, offers a calming respite from the business of downtown Charleston.
—Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Best Restaurants Sabay Bar Enjoying a prime location on White Sand Beach, this bar and restaurant puts out cozy chairs and tables directly on the sand at sunset, and colorful handmade light fixtures hang from the mangrove trees to provide a calming glow as dusk falls.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
The interiors showcase a calming neutral palette, with natural stone and wood playing against glass.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
Turn your porch into a calming oasis with twinkling fairy lights, or upgrade your front yard with in-ground pathway lighting or solar sconces.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calming
Adjective
-
This is supposed to be a relaxing hobby!—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This left zero time for serendipity — or just plain relaxing.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Part of the Nordic ESS Group collection of hotels, Rox meshes soothing Scandinavian minimalism with a welcome moodiness.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Supplements made with arnica have excellent reputations for relieving arthritis pain, soothing sore muscles and accelerating healing for bruises and sprains.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the time of the incident, the victim was carrying a bag containing the three gold chains and multiple diamond watches valued at a total of $85,000.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The old flag, which depicted the old state seal on a blue field, had been criticized for years for a cluttered, undistinguished design and for containing colonial imagery and depicting racist stereotypes.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
16 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
-
Why, Fredriksen has asked, would writers of the mid-second century, composing pseudonymous letters in the voice of a first-century figure, include statements predicting Christ’s imminent return?—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Seeing something on the moon, describing it, and composing a photograph from a very close distance is a different experience from viewing something from afar, or even seeing a close-up captured by a robotic camera.—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The pancakes are fluffy, soft and chewy, the sausage is comforting and the biscuit is probably one of the best in Charlotte.—
Shindy Chen
April 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This quick-cooking protein is the foundation of so many comforting meals—spaghetti sauce, meatloaf, casseroles, meatballs, tacos, and of course, burgers.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The alarms go off, the two get locked in the entry hall, and as Emma panics, Charlie rushes over to kiss her, quieting her fear.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Research has linked prolonged exposure to that level of ambient noise to elevated stress and anxiety, so by quieting that baseline sensory load, ANC creates the right environment for some calming music or a meditation app to do its job.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calming. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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