soothing 1 of 3

adjective

ˈsü-t͟hiŋ How to pronounce soothing (audio)
Definition of soothingnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect spoke to the boy in a soothing voice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

soothing

2 of 3

noun

as in calming

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Dissimilar Words

soothing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of soothe
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

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
Adjective
This simple practice benefits all caregivers, not just birthing parents, and can be done during feeding, soothing, or babywearing. — Parents, 28 July 2026 Microwave or store in the fridge for an extra soothing experience. — ABC News, 25 July 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
With a soothing neutral color palette and elegant touches like custom cathedral ceilings, the house personifies modern luxury. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026 Kids even relate to the packaging a lot—the nostalgia of the packaging, the colors are soothing. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soothing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soothing
  1. relaxing
  2. gentle
  3. calming
  4. reassuring
  5. lulling
  6. relieving
  7. comforting
  8. soft
Adjective
  • But thanks to Kemble’s careful vision, it gets pulled together into a relaxing space where there's always a new detail to catch your eye.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Grocery shopping for school-age kids is not a relaxing, easy-to-manage weekly chore.
    — Parents, Parents, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Adjective
  • Regular use of a gentle, balanced cleaner will restore clarity to the surface and allow your floors’ natural beauty to shine through.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 8 Aug. 2026
  • With an ecosystem as capricious as this, the local wildlife is born and bred to go with the flow—think gentle-but-giant humpback whales, colonies of industrious beavers, and torpedoing peregrine falcons, the fastest animals on Earth.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of gentle
Noun
  • The idea is that these stocks benefit from a calming of tensions in the Middle East, regardless of what happens with AI spending near term.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 July 2026
  • As a very high-octane, easily stressed gal in the entertainment industry, Dave is my calming, grounding force.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Definition of calming
Verb
  • Suddenly, the person who had received the stage 4 diagnosis was also reassuring the person who loved her.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Parents can support their teens by having open conversations about their feelings and reassuring them during this big life change.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of reassuring
Verb
  • Parsons went on to self-release multiple full-length soundtrack albums of ominous sci-fi pads, glitchy electronics, and lulling melodies before A24 announced the release of a feature-length film.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026
  • The project was about permeating the masses, gradually lulling them with propaganda.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of lulling
Verb
  • Campione supports re-prioritizing and accelerating infrastructure projects and relieving congestion on county roads, especially arterial and collector road projects, by pushing the state to replace outdated funding formulas.
    — James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Campillo has said that tourists and other park visitors have begun relieving themselves in grassy areas and other locations, and that as a result the closures are creating a public health emergency.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of relieving
Adjective
  • Fall Dog Treats These cozy seasonal dog treats are made with simple organic ingredients, gently oven baked in small batches for a soft, flavorful reward inspired by the comforting tastes of fall.
    — Jessica Moore, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Those ‘boys’ are in their late forties and fifties now — a comforting reminder, to parents who may be despairing about enduring another entry in this franchise, that all children eventually grow up.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of comforting
Adjective
  • Quilt sets are oversized, reversible and buttery soft, made from the same smart fabric as the favorite sheets with a 100% inner cotton lining, recently named a Good Housekeeping favorite.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Expect a calm palette of neutrals and soft blues, metallic accents, and plenty of natural light, with views either west toward the mountains and desert or north up the Strip.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft

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soothes
soothing
soothingness
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Cite this Entry

“Soothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soothing. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on soothing

Nglish: Translation of soothing for Spanish Speakers

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