1
as in encouraging
making one feel good inside
the comforting smell of fresh bread
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of comforting
Tessa Bailey, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
This Netflix romance is as comforting as a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The shrimp dumplings are satisfyingly spicy and plump, and the beef noodle soup is comforting and well-balanced, with tender beef brisket chunks.
—Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
About an hour in, the citrusy elements calm down and you’re left with this gorgeous warm orange blossom that feels both comforting and fresh.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Get the recipe > This seafood boil turns a simple meal into a celebration, with loads of spices, flavorful shrimp, crawfish, and sweet corn coming together in a fragrant, comforting, and slightly messy hands-on feast.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
This could start with decor on your front porch, a snuggly throw blanket or two in the living room, or a few seasonal items in your kitchen to make comforting meals.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Over time, that could nudge children toward believing comforting lies instead of asking hard questions, a toxic pattern for developing critical thinking.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
An image shows the poster comforting her golden retriever who is feeling sad after grandma left.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Indeed, the eatery’s comforting red-sauce fare and casual feel helped endear it to famous regulars Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and Jack Nicholson, to name a few.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
There’s something comforting about returning to the familiar rhythms of the last sitcom everyone seemed to be watching at the same time, even if only one member of the original cast, Oscar Nuñez, reprises his role.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Cloud shadows caress the sandstone like a mother comforting a sleeping child.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Joan comforting and encouraging him later in the episode was nice.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
With just 16 seats in the space and comforting dishes on the menu, the upcoming dinner will feel something like gathering at the dinner table with family and friends.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
At a time when TVs are getting more powerful, software-driven, AI-stuffed, and, of course, bigger, the TinyTV is a delightful, comforting tribute to a simpler time for TVs.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Pippa writes with such a comforting wit that her books are like a sweet treat in book format.
—Tessa Bailey, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
This Netflix romance is as comforting as a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup.
—Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The shrimp dumplings are satisfyingly spicy and plump, and the beef noodle soup is comforting and well-balanced, with tender beef brisket chunks.
—Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
About an hour in, the citrusy elements calm down and you’re left with this gorgeous warm orange blossom that feels both comforting and fresh.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Get the recipe > This seafood boil turns a simple meal into a celebration, with loads of spices, flavorful shrimp, crawfish, and sweet corn coming together in a fragrant, comforting, and slightly messy hands-on feast.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
This could start with decor on your front porch, a snuggly throw blanket or two in the living room, or a few seasonal items in your kitchen to make comforting meals.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Over time, that could nudge children toward believing comforting lies instead of asking hard questions, a toxic pattern for developing critical thinking.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Since then, their roadside stand has evolved into a destination with produce from local growers and a menu of comforting baked goods, lunches, and take-home meals.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
An image shows the poster comforting her golden retriever who is feeling sad after grandma left.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Indeed, the eatery’s comforting red-sauce fare and casual feel helped endear it to famous regulars Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Frank Sinatra and Jack Nicholson, to name a few.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
There’s something comforting about returning to the familiar rhythms of the last sitcom everyone seemed to be watching at the same time, even if only one member of the original cast, Oscar Nuñez, reprises his role.
—Judy Berman, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Cloud shadows caress the sandstone like a mother comforting a sleeping child.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Joan comforting and encouraging him later in the episode was nice.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
With just 16 seats in the space and comforting dishes on the menu, the upcoming dinner will feel something like gathering at the dinner table with family and friends.
—Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
At a time when TVs are getting more powerful, software-driven, AI-stuffed, and, of course, bigger, the TinyTV is a delightful, comforting tribute to a simpler time for TVs.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comforting
Adjective
-
There was a brief period towards the end of last season when Destiny Udogie was preferred for high-profile matches, but Spence’s performances under Frank have been encouraging.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Waller’s gait appeared normal in the locker room Friday, which was an encouraging sign.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The researchers hypothesized that soft music has a relaxing effect, relieving the tension that makes carsickness worse, and joyful music might serve as distraction, activating the brain's reward systems.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The ground-floor Felice al Gabrielli Restaurant, K Lounge Bar, and 6,458-square-foot garden flow together to form ample space for dining and relaxing.—
Elizabeth Heath,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Therapists typically encourage clients with OCD to avoid reassurance-seeking.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Well, not hope, but at least a reassurance that real-world business fundamentals still matter in a market obsessed with speculative AI pitch decks?—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Miran’s promise to resist political pressure, however, is key to reassuring financial markets, which have reacted badly to Trump’s campaign against the central bank.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Fresh off the release of her latest solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party,Williams is reassuring them that Paramore aren’t going anywhere.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet America’s system is transactional, rewarding affluence while neglecting the very conditions that produce disease.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
With the right mix of competence and strategy, engineers can create careers that are both resilient and rewarding in a world that never stops changing.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
They’re placed on or next to the body and struck with a mallet to release a calming vibration and mellifluous tone that eases muscles, sparking an immediately soothing effect on the nervous system and improving synaptic responses in the brain.—
Terry Elward,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Whatever the manifestation—hair-tucking, shorts-pulling, ball-bouncing, bobbing, pocket-checking, or something else entirely—the familiarity of these motions can have a soothing effect, calming the player’s nerves before a big shot.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wildlife art can be confining, constricting, customary; contemporary artists are assuring its survival and vibrancy by breaking from the traditional.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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In particular, O’Neill proposed doing away with FDA’s 60-year-old mandate of assuring new drugs are both safe and effective in treating disease.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Forget the crowds of other Rocky Mountain destinations—Durango gives visitors a warm Colorado welcome, and then some.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Fall and winter are ideal for testing the soil in flower and vegetable gardens, as well as warm-season turfgrass lawns.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Comforting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comforting. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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