1
as in appeasing
to lessen the anger or agitation of
employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in caressing
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 softening
to lessen the shock of
adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
Verb
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Parents are questioning whether four years and six figures are worth it, especially as campuses are increasingly overtaken by chaos, radical activism, and administrators more concerned with appeasing ideological mobs than educating students.—
Riley Gaines OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 Jan. 2026 -
And yet, beneath the veil of politeness, there was rhetoric from the US president that suggests his default position in negotiations is still to pressure Kyiv, while appeasing Moscow.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The 39-year-old Nigerian-British actress hit the first official awards show of the season, donning a canary yellow gown and caressing her bump as the cameras flashed.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
11 Jan. 2026
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In one instance, Alix leans in to whisper something in his ear while caressing his back.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Speaking with reporters before heading to Switzerland, the president showed no sign of softening his approach to the Greenland issue.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Recharging your dryer balls helps remove detergent residue, while also softening, firming, and refreshing the wool’s natural oils.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ginger Tea Ginger tea is a warm, comforting tea best known for its digestive health benefits.—
Lindsey DeSoto,
Health,
20 Jan. 2026
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Yet instead of assessing potential, curiosity, and capacity for growth, many firms default to familiar résumés, recognizable career paths, and comforting track records.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
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At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This origin underscores dill’s long-standing role as a calming remedy, traditionally used to relieve colic, indigestion, and pain.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Jan. 2026
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The combination helps renew the body, while the calming scent (a blend of essential oils, like lavender, eucalyptus, and clary sage) tends to the mind, elevating the mundane bathing experience into a spa-like treatment.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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During that time, policemen and policewomen, Black and white, approached Officer Daniel, hugging him, shaking his hand, patting him on the back, congratulating him — demonstrating an enormous outpouring of support and admiration.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Jan. 2026
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Sprinkle the salt mixture all over the turkey, including inside the cavity, patting to adhere and nudging some into the crevices.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Per fans, the formula yields a younger-looking complexion in mere weeks, and envelops even the most sensitive skin types in soothing hydration.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
21 Jan. 2026
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Luckily, there's a wellspring of soothing moisturizers and thick body creams on the market that target the symptoms of eczema and ease flare-ups.—
Deanna Pai,
Allure,
20 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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