soothing

[ soo-thing ]

adjective

1. that soothes:

   a soothing voice.

2. tending to assuage pain:

   a soothing cough syrup.

ˈsoothing

/ ˈsuːðɪŋ /

adjective

1. having a calming, assuaging, or relieving effect

Derived Forms

• ˈsoothingly, adverb
• ˈsoothingness, noun

Other Words From

• soothing·ly adverb
• soothing·ness noun
• over·soothing adjective
• over·soothing·ly adverb
• self-soothing adjective
• un·soothing adjective
• un·soothing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of soothing¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; soothe + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Soon after making it, I read in “The Oxford Companion to Food” that the word dill is derived from the Old Norse dilla, meaning to lull and that dill water has been used for soothing babies.

From Washington Post

There were rumbling thunderstorms, and the soothing sound of rain on the tents put us to sleep at night.

From Washington Post

It turns brothy soups into thicker, congee-like ones, which makes them even more soothing and comforting.

From Washington Post

It’s a clever piece of engineering that wraps a ton of soothing elements—music, spinning gears, mechanical feedback—in one palm-sized memento.

From Popular-Science

Some soothing protectionLet’s face it, there are parts of your body you just can’t put Merino wool on.

From Popular-Science

My husband rubs my back and makes soothing noises and tells me everything is going to be okay.

From The Daily Beast

Until Levonuk reappeared an hour later wielding the soothing stuff at another Giant store 20 minutes away.

From The Daily Beast

With its exquisite landscapes, birds-eye view and soothing cinematic music, Drone Boning makes sex look like art.

From The Daily Beast

This was a soothing thought until I made the connection: my family had chosen to go on vacation without me.

From The Daily Beast

But from the quiet solitude of small-town New England, Dr. Anderson would offer a soothing late-night phone call or Skype session.

From The Daily Beast

Lamb fills his case, and lights this the ne plus ultra of a soothing weed.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the soothing influence of beauty, however, the vicar forgot his woes.

From Project Gutenberg

It combats ennui, lassitude, and intolerable vacuity, soothing the nerves and diverting attention from self.

From Project Gutenberg

Everywhere I marked only pleasant and soothing effects from the use of tobacco.

From Project Gutenberg

Here too its many virtues were first discovered, and its soothing effects first felt and appreciated.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• calming
• reassuring