gentled 1 of 2

adjective

as in tamed

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gentled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of gentle
1
as in appeased
to lessen the anger or agitation of employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in caressed
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet

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3
as in softened
to lessen the shock of adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers

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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 gentled
Verb
Lisiecki gentled his way through a Brahms waltz for an encore. — Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentled
  1. domesticated
  2. appeased
  3. caressed
  4. softened
  5. tame
  6. calmed
  7. patted
  8. subdued
Adjective
  • These inventions transformed honey bees from a largely feral species into semi-domesticated livestock that could be managed year-round, expanded, and reproduced.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
Definition of domesticated
Verb
  • In a 3-0 battering of Scotland, manager Carlo Ancelotti appeased the people of Miami with a Neymar cameo.
    — David Hickey, NBC news, 25 June 2026
  • Both agencies appeased a murderer.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of appeased
Verb
  • Kikuko cried out as her father’s hand slowly caressed her chest.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Electric Bleu is French food caressed with California seasonality and the occasional pop of Aussie nostalgia.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of caressed
Verb
  • But as a candidate for governor, Hong had softened her tone while not disavowing her past statements.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • In recent years, critical attitudes towards Terrordome, which was Onwurah’s debut, have softened, with institutions programming the title as part of retrospectives and championing it as a seminal example of afrofuritist filmmaking.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 July 2026
Definition of softened
Adjective
  • But on the whole, rather than a dramatic departure, petal feels fairly constrained and, occasionally, like a tame reimagining of her older work.
    — Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026
  • Downtown by day can be fairly tame, but campground nightlife often is not.
    — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of tame
Verb
  • Gilt yields fell across the curve on Tuesday morning, suggesting markets were calmed by Burnham's cabinet choices.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 July 2026
  • Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd Sunday evening, officials stressed that even though the fires burning in northern Minnesota had calmed over the weekend, this year’s fire season is just getting started.
    — Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 20 July 2026
Definition of calmed
Verb
  • Merrill helped Tatis to his feet and patted him on the chest.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • When an excitable teenager cut in front of my dad, Frankenstein — without saying a word — gestured for the kid to be patient and wait, patted my dad on the back and posed for a picture.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of patted
Adjective
  • The singer’s fourth album inhabits a balmy medium zone of relentlessly moderate tempos and subdued vocals, where even brief moments of intriguing tension and fuzz get flattened into homogeneity.
    — Mitch Therieau, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • Even slamming the door of the Mercedes is a subdued event with its soft-close doors.
    — Sasha Lekach, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of subdued

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gentle
gentled
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Cite this Entry

“Gentled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentled. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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