Synonyms of soothe

soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h 

1

as in to reassure

to ease the grief or distress of

there seemed to be no words sufficient to soothe the bereaved parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reassure
• assure
• comfort
• cheer
• console
• uplift
• solace
• relieve
• alleviate
• sympathize
• allay
• empathize
• calm
• assuage
• lift
• elevate
• commiserate
• relax
• condole
• buoy (up)
• boost
• quiet
• tranquilize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• distress
• trouble
• discourage
• torment
• worry
• upset
• torture
• intensify
• aggravate
• demoralize
• worsen
• irritate
• annoy
• fret
• dishearten
• harass
• irk
• pester

2

as in to calm

to free from distress or disturbance

soothed the baby with a bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• calm
• lull
• compose
• appease
• quiet
• relax
• salve
• relieve
• quieten
• tranquilize
• still
• settle
• quell
• becalm
• placate
• pacify
• mollify
• hush
• alleviate
• lullaby
• allay
• ease
• assuage
• conciliate
• mitigate
• solace
• lay
• sedate
• stupefy
• narcotize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• upset
• disturb
• agitate
• vex
• perturb
• intensify
• aggravate
• heighten
• arouse
• excite
• disquiet
• key (up)
• rouse
• discompose
• stir (up)
• incite
• foment
• work up

3

as in to relieve

to make more bearable or less severe

hot tea with honey will soothe a sore throat

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relieve
• alleviate
• help
• ease
• mitigate
• soften
• allay
• assuage
• heal
• mollify
• improve
• cure
• temper
• palliate
• enhance
• lighten
• remedy
• moderate
• abate
• better
• repair
• correct
• ameliorate
• perfect
• enrich
• rectify
• fix
• refine
• amend
• reform
• mend
• emend
• meliorate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurt
• impair
• harm
• injure
• aggravate
• exacerbate
• intensify
• sharpen
• heighten

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of soothe

Entertainment Some Graco swings are equipped with sound equipment for creating music and sounds that babies react to and often find soothing. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

For now, Khalil lives in Brooklyn, not far from Prospect Park, in a building with tall vases of flowers and soothing music in the lobby. — Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Moisturizing before bed matters because skin hydration naturally drops in the evening, and the right nighttime moisturizer can also soothe irritation from actives like retinoids. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The masks, intended for play and to soothe skin when needed, were slammed for encouraging adult beauty standards for children, while dermatologists said kids only need basic skincare. — Anna Halkidis, Parents, 17 Aug. 2026