Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for comfort

comfort

[ kuhm-fert ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to:

    They tried to comfort her after her loss.

    Synonyms: ease, gladden, solace, calm, pacify

  2. to make physically comfortable.

    Synonyms: ease

  3. Obsolete. to aid; support or encourage.


noun

  1. relief in affliction; consolation; solace:

    Her presence was a comfort to him.

  2. a feeling of relief or consolation:

    Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.

  3. a person or thing that gives consolation:

    She was a great comfort to him.

  4. a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction:

    The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.

  5. a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety:

    He is a man who enjoys his comfort.

  6. something that promotes such a state:

    His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.

  7. Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.
  8. Obsolete. strengthening aid; assistance.

comfort

/ ˈkʌmfət /

noun

  1. a state of ease or well-being
  2. relief from affliction, grief, etc
  3. a person, thing, or event that brings solace or ease
  4. obsolete.
    support
  5. usually plural something that affords physical ease and relaxation
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to ease the pain of; soothe; cheer
  2. to bring physical ease to
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈcomfortless, adjective
  • ˈcomfortlessness, noun
  • ˈcomfortlessly, adverb
  • ˈcomfortingly, adverb
  • ˈcomforting, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • comfort·less adjective
  • un·comfort·ed adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of comfort1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb comfortien, from Anglo-French, Old French conforter, from Late Latin confortāre “to strengthen,” equivalent to con- con- ( def ) + -fortāre, verb suffix formed from Latin fortis “strong”; noun derived from the verb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of comfort1

C13: from Old French confort, from Late Latin confortāre to strengthen very much, from Latin con- (intensive) + fortis strong
Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

see cold comfort ; creature comforts ; too close for comfort .
Discover More

Synonym Study

Comfort, console, relieve, soothe imply assuaging sorrow, worry, discomfort, or pain. To comfort is to lessen the sadness or sorrow of someone and to strengthen by inspiring with hope and restoring a cheerful outlook: to comfort a despairing person. Console, a more formal word, means to make grief or distress seem lighter, by means of kindness and thoughtful attentions: to console a bereaved parent. Relieve means to lighten, lessen, or remove pain, trouble, discomfort, or hardship: to relieve a needy person. Soothe means to pacify or calm: to soothe a child. See ease.
Discover More

Example Sentences

Instead, he asked meaningful questions that brought me comfort.

You can also opt to purchase the item with shoulder pads for extra comfort.

That’s a raw deal for China, as well as India, Vietnam, and other countries trying to raise their citizens to the level of affluence and comfort afforded those in the West.

From Vox

The comfort and flexibility of learning online have always been of attraction to long-life learners.

For that reason, working out alone, be it outside or in the comfort of your own home, is pretty much risk-free, Thomas says.

Talking about death is never easy, but with food, comfort, and familiarity, a new kind of dinner party is making it easier.

He uses some combination of the words comfort or discomfort in regards to how he feels about situations over 30 times.

The doctor tells me I can walk on it right away, “as comfort allows.”

Liberals either boast or comfort themselves that their own beliefs push humanity forward.

It simultaneously reveals the absurdity of dictatorship and gives comfort to those languishing under an impossible reality.

And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.

“I hope he will grow up to be a true comfort to you, M. Pujol,” said Miss Janet.

However, I have felt some comfort in knowing that it is not Liszt's genius alone that makes him such a player.

Then I hesitated no longer, but turned away and left her alone with her grief; it was not for me to comfort her.

For his mind flung itself with violence upon two sentences: he was 'beautiful and precious'; she longed for him to 'comfort' her.

Advertisement

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


comfitcomfortable