reassuring

[ree-uh-shoor-ing, -shur-]

adjective

1. restoring or boosting confidence, certainty, or security.

   All children deserve safety, comfort, privacy, and reassuring routines.

   The reassuring news is that the insects don't carry nearly enough of the virus to infect a human.

noun

1. the act or process of restoring or boosting confidence, certainty, or security.

   One drawback is that telemedicine does not allow for the physical comforting and reassuring of a patient.

Other Word Forms

• reassuringly adverb
• unreassuring adjective
• unreassuringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reassuring¹

First recorded in 1700–10; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Example Sentences

The scene she depicts even imitates her real life: Kahlo actually kept a smaller, papier-mâché skeleton atop her own canopy bed in Mexico City as a reassuring symbol of death’s ubiquity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That has put pressure on Nvidia’s earnings, scheduled for after the close on Wednesday, to save the day by reassuring investors.

Read more on Barron's

Alexander gave his brother a reassuring swipe of his paw—that is to say, hand.

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Returning to her chair, she drew the Incorrigibles close to her and tried her best to sound reassuring.

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The number is broadly in line with weekly levels seen over the past 12 months, a reassuring sign that at least through the middle of last month, there was no large surge in layoffs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• assistance 
• backing 
• cheer 
• comfort 
• confidence 
• consolation 
• faith 
• fortitude 
• incentive 
• inspiration 
• optimism 
• reassurance 
• relief 
• reward 
• stimulation 
• stimulus