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
Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Enjoy a range of relaxing treatments and sensory experiences at the new Ritz-Carlton Spa, Key Biscayne, which includes 16 treatment rooms and a soothing spa garden.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Sound Jackson says soft music or other soothing-to-you sound should be considered part of the equation.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Adjective
Thyme and garlic round out the flavors of this soothing bowl, which will surely warm and comfort you on a chilly, drizzly day.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Enjoy a range of relaxing treatments and sensory experiences at the new Ritz-Carlton Spa, Key Biscayne, which includes 16 treatment rooms and a soothing spa garden.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Create a front yard that invigorates all the senses by adding a soothing water feature.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Sound Jackson says soft music or other soothing-to-you sound should be considered part of the equation.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soothing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soothing
Adjective
-
For a more relaxing itinerary, book a mineral water soak in the bathhouse at Carson Hot Springs Resort, which has been providing access to pure hot spring waters since the early 1900s.—
Molly Allen,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Other than that, hot water can be a relaxing treat at other points in the day.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The intuitive Moon is in your sign, lighting your 1st House of Identity and inviting you to show gentle leadership through presence rather than pressure.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This villa is high enough to feel secluded, but never removed from the gentle rhythm of the Caribbean island of Bequia.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said the images were aimed less at reassuring the public than at boosting morale among the regime’s weakening security forces.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
-
His one reassuring constant has been little Bolo.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump supported Milei’s fiscal program last year with a $20-billion credit line that succeeded in calming markets and boosting Milei’s prospects in a crucial midterm election in October.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
More and more, large language models are relieving people of the burden of reading and writing, in school and at work but also in group chats and email exchanges with friends.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The medications, aimed at relieving the fluid in his chest, weren't cutting it due to the advanced stage of his condition.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The couple's daughter recalled a warm and comforting childhood.—
Nicole Nielsen,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Some of the behaviors most strongly associated with deep, durable love don’t feel comforting in the moment at all.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The team aimed to recreate this kind of dynamic control in a soft, synthetic material using digital design rather than complex biological systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The village range will include a hybrid hoodie combining a soft fleece front with a ripstop nylon back, displaying a tricolor mountain motif, as well as a T-shirt designed as a nod to the Paris Games in 2024 and a recycled polyester sherpa.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
White, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes, passed the ball out where it was stolen by Atwell, who missed another deep 3 with one tick remaining, assuring KU the win.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Some fears exist among the British right that Reform’s success could still be squashed by an alliance of Labour, the Green Party, the Lib Dems, and a confederation of minor parties if a pact is not struck with the Conservatives, assuring a unified right-wing bloc.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soothing. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
