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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of comforting
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
The production is cold, distant, and uncertain, like the world lately, but within the song the lyrics feel warm and comforting.
—Time, 6 May 2026
For Chamberlain, paintings—and paint itself—are nostalgic and comforting.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 4 May 2026
The food was exactly the same—the menu is a fresh and creative take on regional flavors, yet still approachable and comforting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
Compounding the problem, psychedelics are frequently best when taken in safe, comforting spaces that encourage openness.
—Jerel Ezell, STAT, 1 May 2026
As a city that is always negotiating with modernity, the tradition of jol khabar remains a comforting anchor, binding generations to their cultural roots and evoking nostalgia.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
His comforting voice echoed across the beer hall, round after round after round.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Start your day with a high-protein breakfast; try a comforting Breakfast Quinoa simmered with milk and cinnamon.
—Olivia Tarantino, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
From comforting classics to a few new-school favorites, these five pasta recipes were on the top of everyone's list.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Throughout the evening, the cast and EPs spoke about how special the show feels to them to make, while also praising its wholesome, comforting warmth.
—Abby Stern, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
In globalization, concreteness in English is comforting.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
The result is a more filling, comforting bowl with minimal effort.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
Talking things through with them can be comforting and grounding.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That's comforting news to neighbors.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Continental Legacy features comforting meals that India’s monarchs would have served their visiting guests from the continent, going from a Velouté de Morilles to an English trifle pudding.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Two of fall's most comforting flavors combined?
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 11 May 2026
The production is cold, distant, and uncertain, like the world lately, but within the song the lyrics feel warm and comforting.
—Time, 6 May 2026
For Chamberlain, paintings—and paint itself—are nostalgic and comforting.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 4 May 2026
The food was exactly the same—the menu is a fresh and creative take on regional flavors, yet still approachable and comforting.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
Compounding the problem, psychedelics are frequently best when taken in safe, comforting spaces that encourage openness.
—Jerel Ezell, STAT, 1 May 2026
As a city that is always negotiating with modernity, the tradition of jol khabar remains a comforting anchor, binding generations to their cultural roots and evoking nostalgia.
—Madhushree Basu Roy, Saveur, 30 Apr. 2026
His comforting voice echoed across the beer hall, round after round after round.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Start your day with a high-protein breakfast; try a comforting Breakfast Quinoa simmered with milk and cinnamon.
—Olivia Tarantino, Martha Stewart, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Caitlin Vaccaro has forged a decade-long career as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), caring for newborns in need and comforting their parents along the way.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
From comforting classics to a few new-school favorites, these five pasta recipes were on the top of everyone's list.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Throughout the evening, the cast and EPs spoke about how special the show feels to them to make, while also praising its wholesome, comforting warmth.
—Abby Stern, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
In globalization, concreteness in English is comforting.
—Literary Hub, 4 May 2026
The result is a more filling, comforting bowl with minimal effort.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
Talking things through with them can be comforting and grounding.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
That's comforting news to neighbors.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Continental Legacy features comforting meals that India’s monarchs would have served their visiting guests from the continent, going from a Velouté de Morilles to an English trifle pudding.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comforting
Adjective
-
Whether this year is another blip or the start of at least a small rebuild is of course impossible to say yet, but the number of shows increasing (as did the number of pilots networks made) is an encouraging sign.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
As such, Google Project Zero is strongly encouraging vendors to improve their proactive software development practices to prevent these kinds of vulnerabilities from ever reaching end users.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska For a relaxing dip, Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, Alaska, has a hot spring-fed lake that stays around 106 degrees year-round.—
Talia Avakian,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
There’s the relaxing and meditative Cinq Mondes & Vinésime Spa, cooking classes, a gym, tennis, padel and pickleball courts, yoga and Pilates classes, fishing, vineyard safaris, sommelier master classes, seasonal truffle hunting and more.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Canvot has been consistently excellent, too, undoubtedly benefiting from the reassurance provided by Maxence Lacroix at his side.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
That reassurance landed differently depending on who received it.—
Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But for some members, that language is too flexible and far from reassuring.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
According to critics and allies alike, those statements are aimed at reassuring Chavista loyalists that the movement has not entirely abandoned its nationalist identity.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Cold-tolerant herbs to start now for fresh flavor Herbs are one of the most rewarding additions to an early spring garden, partly because so many of them genuinely prefer cool weather.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
-
As a result, ordinary life stops feeling rewarding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Those are paired with a soothing lineup of Centella asiatica, madecassoside, panthenol, and allantoin to keep skin balanced (as irritation can worsen pigmentation).—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
9 May 2026
-
Opt for Warm Lighting Harsh lighting is the opposite of soothing, says Brooks.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The head linesman normally carries out the task of assuring the down marker is flipped.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2026
-
Lauder, who is heir to the Estée Lauder Companies, and his daughter, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, plan to make a major gift that will fund a $200 million endowment assuring the long-term care of the Neue Galerie and the preservation of its works.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
State and federal taxes, seasonal demand and even more expensive fuel blends needed for warmer weather are all pieces of the pie.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
When the weather gets warm, nothing satisfies quite like cold noodles in iced broth.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comforting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comforting. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
