soothe

1 to ease the grief or distress of there seemed to be no words sufficient to soothe the bereaved parents Synonyms assure, cheer, console, reassure, solace, comfortRelated Words commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize; boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift; allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve; calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize)Near Antonyms demoralize, discourage, dishearten; fret, upset, worry; aggravate, intensify, worsen; annoy, irk, irritate; harass, pesterAntonyms distress, torment, torture, trouble

2 to free from distress or disturbance soothed the baby with a bottle Synonyms becalm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], salve, settle, calm, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)Related Words appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace; narcotize, sedate, stupefyNear Antonyms aggravate, heighten, intensify; arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work upAntonyms agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex

3 to make more bearable or less severe hot tea with honey will soothe a sore throat Synonyms allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, mitigate, mollify, palliate, relieve, helpRelated Words abate, lighten, moderate, soften, temper; cure, heal, remedy; amend, correct, emend, fix, mend, rectify, reform, repair; ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate, perfect, refineNear Antonyms harm, hurt, impair, injure; heighten, intensify, sharpenAntonyms aggravate, exacerbate