gentling

verb

present participle of gentle
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
  1. appeasing
  2. caressing
  3. softening
  4. comforting
  5. stroking
  6. calming
  7. patting
  8. soothing
Verb
  • Interest—from both visitors and islanders—is gently shifting away from polishing playboy yachts or appeasing the decadent whims of retirees, to something, well, more real.
    — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026
  • But for most Republican members of Congress, appeasing Trump remains key to primary and electoral success.
    — SoRelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 17 July 2026
Definition of appeasing
Verb
  • In the snap, Portman, who’s expecting her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, could be seen standing in front of an apartment balcony in an oversized blue button-down, caressing her stomach.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • Pulling out the rocket launcher Mac had bought him on the dark web, Dennis was genuinely overcome, caressing his bucket-list war weapon in stunned gratitude, while Mac beamed in what, on any other show, would be heartwarming friendship.
    — Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026
Definition of caressing
Verb
  • Lander did not feel the need to appease the Zionist mob by softening his rhetoric.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • The singer styled a floral tank top from Chloé with black stovepipe jeans, softening the dark wash with a touch of flower power.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 20 July 2026
Definition of softening
Verb
  • Then, something comforting like sandalwood and something citrusy like grapefruit.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026
  • From shareable small plates to comforting classics, every meal is designed to bring people together.
    — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of comforting
Verb
  • There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.
    — Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
  • Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of stroking
Verb
  • The British rose full body massage infuses a calming sense of place with local flora, and a range of facial treatments is available as well.
    — Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The Olympic gymnast, 29, headlined day two of the Faces of Fitness festival in Chicago on Sunday, July 26, delivering a presentation on mental health and leading attendees in calming breathing exercises.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of calming
Verb
  • The one-sided conversation ended with Hocevar patting Wallace on the shoulder — defusing the tension while offering little remorse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 June 2026
  • If raw red onion is too strong for you, let the slices soak in ice water for 15 to 30 minutes before draining, patting dry, and adding to the salad.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 June 2026
Definition of patting
Verb
  • Drawing me back year after year is the Okefenokee’s breathtaking splendor, magnificent array of plants and animals and its mind-soothing peacefulness and serenity.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 25 July 2026
  • Kozue spends much of her time simply looking around, and there is pleasure to be had in the film’s soothing color palette and soft cinematography.
    — Elena Lazic, Variety, 25 July 2026
Definition of soothing
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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