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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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 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
  • Breasts are caressed and thighs crisscross; kisses are planted, and occasionally there’s a glimpse of something more graphic.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Kikuko cried out as her father’s hand slowly caressed her chest.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of caressed
Verb
  • But as Brown’s market softened, Gansey and the Sixers were still there.
    — Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But while anti-immigrant, pro-Russian parties have made inroads across the continent in recent years, there have also been notable reversals, and some have softened their views to build coalitions with moderates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of softened
Adjective
  • This was the tame version, too, after a friend read the first draft and told him to rein it in a bit.
    — Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • All of this stems from a case that is relatively tame, by on-field standards.
    — Matt Baker, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of tame
Verb
  • Lifeguards said the conditions calmed down on Monday but still left behind dangerous conditions at the end of the Labor Day weekend.
    — Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The product immediately calmed down my irritable, rosacea-prone skin while delivering intense hydration that lasted all day.
    — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of calmed
Verb
  • Mafe got blocked behind Mayfield, but broke free as Mayfield patted the ball, looking for somebody open downfield.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Edwards stood silently -- remaining in the well until Johnson left the rostrum, approached Edwards from behind and patted him on the back -- leading him up the aisle to the back of the chamber.
    — John Parkinson, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of patted
Adjective
  • Winfrey has a more subdued take on footwear, her choices consisting of neutral tones with the occasional leopard or snakeskin.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Now, in the midst of a subdued market, investors are being more selective, and the new playbook for funding fashion has a lot to do with the quality of that growth, the depth of connection with customers and the founder’s individual appeal.
    — Tara Donaldson, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of subdued

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gentle
gentled
gentlefolk
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Cite this Entry

“Gentled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentled. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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