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
Relevance
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
-
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026 -
But, arguably, many of them have been accomplished by appeasing the concerns of the massive and powerful voting bloc of homeowners.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The biggest red flag for backcountry travelers is rapidly softening snow.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady on Wednesday as policymakers face growing signs of a softening job market, even as the war in Iran puts more upward pressure on prices.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No, a restaurant where conviviality flows like a broken water main, and the food is rich, comforting and detonating with flavor.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Vatican released on Monday details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four-nation Africa tour, suggesting Christian-Muslim relations, comforting victims of violence and encouraging the Catholic community in former European colonies will be key themes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At first, Hanke thought Miyabi was just stroking his ego.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
-
She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Details like the wrought iron bed frame, small olive trees indoors, and sea foam bedding only heighten the appeal of this quiet, calming retreat.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
25 Mar. 2026
-
It’s made with 96% snail secretion filtrate, a humectant-rich ingredient known for calming irritation, fading post-acne marks, and supporting skin repair.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The formula relies on colloidal oatmeal, an ingredient known for its soothing properties, to calm irritation while helping the skin retain moisture.—
Hana Hong,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Even rice extracts contribute, delivering soothing hydration with a subtle brightening effect.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
