soothe

verb \ ˈsüt͟h \

Updated on: 7 Dec 2017

Definition of soothe

soothed; soothing

transitive verb

1 : to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate

2 : relieve, alleviate

soothe a cough

3 : to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to

music soothes the soul

intransitive verb

: to bring peace, composure, or quietude

—

soother

noun

See soothe defined for English-language learners

See soothe defined for kids

Examples of soothe in a Sentence

The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer.
This cream soothes aching muscles.
Her nerves were soothed by a warm bath.
Nothing can soothe their pain.

Recent Examples of soothe from the Web

Her pot roast has just enough sherry to soothe; shredded kimchi enlivens the brussels sprouts.

— patric kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, "Let’s Take a Moment to Appreciate The Enduring Brilliance of Chef Suzanne Tracht," 26 Oct. 2017
Set in the 1700s, the play is about a castrato, Farinelli, who soothed the spirits of Spain’s King Philip V (played by Mark Rylance).

— alexandra wolfe, WSJ, "Countertenor Iestyn Davies: A Vocal Contortionist Hits a High Note," 20 Oct. 2017
But about three years ago, not long after her husband died, not even the garden could soothe her.

— joanne silberner, Discover Magazine, "A Global State of Mind," 13 Nov. 2017
Hundley made a tremendous back-shoulder throw to Jordy Nelson that should, if nothing else, soothe the jangled nerves of Nelson’s fantasy owners just a bit.

— gary gramling, SI.com, "Week 7: Feeling Kinda O.K. About Brett Hundley, That Time the Falcons Fooled Tom Brady, and Someone Please Sign Dwight Freeney," 21 Oct. 2017
The sounds are both terrifying and peaceful at the same time. While the sounds may be almost soothing today, Chernobyl was the site of mass death, with years of radiation poisoning infecting entire populations.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Listen to the Soothing and Eerie Sounds of Chernobyl," 13 Sep. 2017
In each of our minds is a system that identifies likely siblings by tracking which other kids one’s own parents cared for—fed, bathed, scolded, and soothed.

— debra lieberman, Fortune, "Why We Secretly Love the Incest on Game of Thrones," 31 Aug. 2017
Rose petals and neem leaves are powerful, calming botanicals that both soothe the skin and help detox the body after an aggravating day.

— liza myers, Bon Appetit, "7 Products For a Cool, Calm, and Delicious Summer," 7 July 2017
The walls, painted in Ralph Lauren's Duchess Lilac, are soothing for sleeping.

— michael lassell, ELLE Decor, "Miami Makeover," 15 Mar. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soothe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of soothe

Middle English sothen to verify, from Old English sōthian, from sōth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1617

See Words from the same year

soothe Synonyms

Synonyms

assure, cheer, console, reassure, solace, comfort

Antonyms

distress, torment, torture, trouble

Related Words

commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize; boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift; allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve; calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Near Antonyms

demoralize, discourage, dishearten; fret, upset, worry; aggravate, intensify, worsen; annoy, irk, irritate; harass, pester

SOOTHE Defined for English Language Learners

soothe

verb

Definition of soothe for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone) to be calmer, less angry, etc.
: to cause (a part of the body) to feel better
: to cause (pain) to go away or become less severe

SOOTHE Defined for Kids

soothe

verb \ ˈsüt͟h \

Definition of soothe for Students

soothed; soothing

1 : to please by praise or attention

The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer.

2 : relieve 1

Lotion will soothe your sunburn.

3 : to calm down : comfort

Papa was trying to soothe Mama, who was wheezing heavily from asthma and excitement.
—George Selden, The Cricket in Times Square

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See words that rhyme with soothe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for soothe Spanish Central: Translation of soothe Nglish: Translation of soothe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of soothe for Arabic speakers

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soothe

Definition of soothe

soother

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Examples of soothe in a Sentence

Recent Examples of soothe from the Web

Origin and Etymology of soothe

soothe Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

SOOTHE Defined for English Language Learners

soothe

Definition of soothe for English Language Learners

SOOTHE Defined for Kids

soothe

Definition of soothe for Students

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