1
as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress
the soothing music eventually put the entire yoga class in the proper mood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
spoke to the boy in a soothing voice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in calming
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in reassuring
to ease the grief or distress of
there seemed to be no words sufficient to soothe the bereaved parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lulling
to free from distress or disturbance
soothed the baby with a bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in relieving
to make more bearable or less severe
hot tea with honey will soothe a sore throat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of soothing
Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Honeybees buzz at roughly 250 to 300 Hz, a frequency practitioners say falls into a soothing range for the nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Maria Yagoda, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2025
Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 29 May 2026
Plus, its soothing palette of pale woods, creamy whites, and heather grays certainly doesn’t get in the way of creativity.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Adjective
But Giant refuses to indulge this soothing fiction about human nature.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
Honeybees buzz at roughly 250 to 300 Hz, a frequency practitioners say falls into a soothing range for the nervous system.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
Noun
This became a soothing refrain whenever there was a momentary, impossible-to-plan-for hiccup (like the arrival time of custom’s agents) shared with the guests.
—Maria Yagoda, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
Those with dry, congestion-prone skin should avoid it, as thick overnight layers can quickly convert from soothing to suffocating.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 29 May 2026
Plus, its soothing palette of pale woods, creamy whites, and heather grays certainly doesn’t get in the way of creativity.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soothing
Adjective
-
Separate soaking tubs provide an alternative for a more relaxing bath.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Few things are more relaxing than slipping into a bubbly hot tub — being able to do it every night in the comfort of your own backyard would be pure bliss.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Chongqing-style chicken rustling with red chiles, mapo tofu and gentle Hainan chicken rice check boxes for mass appeal.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Her mother had been a schoolteacher and Boston had a teacher’s gentle manner and studious tone.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
At the same time, glycerin, squalane, and tremella mushrooms keep skin comfortably hydrated, while calming extras like bisabolol and Centella asiatica (cica) minimize the chance of irritation.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
8 May 2026
-
But the only peace on Concrète Waves is the occasional pullback, a calming of the storm rather than the coming of a resolution.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sora 2, OpenAI’s problematic generative video platform, was abandoned last December, reassuring many copyright holders.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
-
Starbucks recently posted stronger-than expected quarterly earnings, reassuring investors who have been closely watching traffic trends, pricing and operational improvements under the new leadership team.—
Brandon Gomez,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The project was about permeating the masses, gradually lulling them with propaganda.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Glamp or camp under the starry skies with Lake Superior's waves lulling you to sleep at Grand Marais Recreation Area or Pincushion Mountain Haus.—
Joie Probst,
Midwest Living,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The craniectomy, which removed 40 percent of her skull, saved Erbert's life by relieving pressure caused by the hematoma, a collection of blood that had formed from a burst blood vessel.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
-
Cormann warned that government spending aimed at relieving energy costs needed to be aimed at those most in need and temporary, to avoid running up excess government debt and preserving incentives to save energy.—
David McHugh,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Nestlé's take pairs notes of vanilla and brown butter flavor with milk chocolate morsels for a chocolate chip cookie that's even more comforting.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 June 2026
-
Bereaved individuals have often told me that hearing other people’s memories of the person who died can be deeply comforting.—
Julie Kaplow,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Early on in his first five, six starts, there were a lot of balls in play, obviously some soft contact, balls at guys.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
This mini dress is made from lightweight fabric that feels soft against the skin and has a breezy silhouette that keeps it from clinging.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soothing. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
