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
The recipe calls for plenty of seaweed, rich in nourishing minerals, and is deeply soothing and hydrating. — Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026 For sensitive or dry underarms, the deodorant also uses a soothing blend of shea butter, spirulina, and niacinamide to keep pits comfortable all day long. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
Additional soothing comes at the Sense Spa, with its gym, treatment rooms, and Turkish-style hammam. — Eddi Fiegel, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2026 Many gliding swings also feature music and vibrations for extra soothing. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
Or perhaps your scalp has been close to one too many hot tools and could use some soothing ASAP? — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026 Plan to spend a day soaking in the property's hot springs, which has been soothing visitors since 1886. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 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
  • Meanwhile, Cozy Earth and Brooklinen offer everything from soft sheets to plush comforters to help make your bedroom feel like a relaxing retreat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Green Tones Soft sage, olive, and forest green connect indoor spaces to the natural world, creating a relaxing, mood-boosting atmosphere.
    — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Adjective
  • Its epic-length bookends transposed the funereal aims of Bell Witch’s modern doom masterpiece Mirror Reaper to Floydian realms, while its gentler, more meditative midsection never completely renounced the artists’ metal roots.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Our goal was to take it easy during the daylight hours with a gentle hike or two, and store up our energy for a nocturnal expedition come sundown.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Nov. 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
  • One chatbot might accurately note that most smokers never develop lung cancer, reassuring the smoker and reinforcing the habit.
    — Jessica Fishman, STAT, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Although there have been only a couple of cases reported in wildlife, that isn’t necessarily reassuring.
    — Eric Michel, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 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
  • Many of them have touted tax cuts as a means of keeping money in people's pockets and relieving affordability woes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Women were less likely than men to receive pain-relieving medications, even after researchers accounted for factors including how much pain patients reported.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of relieving
Adjective
  • The pastas, in particular, are worth a visit alone, especially the rigatoni alla vodka, which uses a one-two umami punch of white miso and guanciale, along with the deliriously comforting rollatini with white ragu.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Silica and perlite also give skin a matte, slick-free finish, while the brand’s signature thermal spring water adds a comforting touch.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of comforting
Adjective
  • The researchers aim to combine the flexibility of soft robots with the reconfigurability of modular robotic systems.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Every room includes complimentary daily use of a beach chair, soft top surfboard, or boogie board (subject to availability).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of soft

Browse Nearby Words

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 14 Nov. 2026.

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