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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lulling
to free from distress or disturbance
soothed the baby with a bottle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in relieving
to make more bearable or less severe
hot tea with honey will soothe a sore throat
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soothing
Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
For designer Anita Yokota, Benjamin Moore’s Smoky Blue is a standout—a soothing, nature-nodding hue that soothes on sight.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 26 Apr. 2026
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 May 2026
Grounding techniques are a type of self-soothing strategy that aim to redirect attention away from racing thoughts and back to the present moment through touch, taste, smell, or movement — an approach commonly used in therapy to interrupt anxiety spirals.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Adjective
Inspired by its surroundings, the album is light, soothing, loose, and mostly played in a major key.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
For designer Anita Yokota, Benjamin Moore’s Smoky Blue is a standout—a soothing, nature-nodding hue that soothes on sight.
—Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash, which delivers a satisfying lather while still prioritizing hydration, thanks to barrier-supporting ingredients like shea butter and the brand’s soothing thermal spring water.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 2 May 2026
Grounding techniques are a type of self-soothing strategy that aim to redirect attention away from racing thoughts and back to the present moment through touch, taste, smell, or movement — an approach commonly used in therapy to interrupt anxiety spirals.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soothing
Adjective
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This spring, just outside the dining room, Shahniani will add the Expoterrace, a relaxing patio with a fountain, waterfalls and lush plants inspired by Living with the Land at Epcot in Florida.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Tropea Beach, which sits on Tyrrhenian Sea in the southern part of Italy’s Calabria region, is the world’s most relaxing beach, according to a new study.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Both are gentler than acetone and won’t dry your nails and cuticles out as much, making this pot a great choice for those with sensitive skin.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Cooked in a wood-burning oven, the chicken hums with a gentle smokiness and a complex, fruity chile flavor that’s warm, rounded and highly addictive.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
-
There is self-regulation going on in the initial stages of spiritual development, and this is where calming does come into play.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to critics and allies alike, those statements are aimed at reassuring Chavista loyalists that the movement has not entirely abandoned its nationalist identity.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
Abel walked shareholders through efforts to improve its railway and insurance businesses, and the inclusion of Berkshire’s other executives was also reassuring to investors.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
4 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
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Menon will be relieving NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who will fly back home on a Soyuz with two cosmonauts soon after Menon’s arrival.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
The Tiami mattress, now 35% off for Memorial Day, is a design-forward, luxury mattress that has cooling and pain-relieving properties.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
For Chamberlain, paintings—and paint itself—are nostalgic and comforting.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
-
The food was exactly the same—the menu is a fresh and creative take on regional flavors, yet still approachable and comforting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 May 2026
Adjective
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Sites that preserve soft-bodied organisms are even rarer because soft tissues decompose more easily, making these places especially useful for piecing together prehistoric ecosystems.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
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Larsson and Pink have penned a postcard to their respective home countries while flexing the global soft power afforded, at least in part, by their international alliance.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soothing. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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