comfort

[ kuhm-fert ]

/ ˈkʌm fərt /

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See synonyms for: comfort / comforted / comforting / comforts on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to: They tried to comfort her after her loss.

to make physically comfortable.

Obsolete. to aid; support or encourage.

noun

relief in affliction; consolation; solace: Her presence was a comfort to him.

a feeling of relief or consolation: Her forgiveness afforded him great comfort.

a person or thing that gives consolation: She was a great comfort to him.

a cause or matter of relief or satisfaction: The patient's recovery was a comfort to the doctor.

a state of ease and satisfaction of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety: He is a man who enjoys his comfort.

something that promotes such a state: His wealth allows him to enjoy a high degree of comfort.

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a comforter or quilt.

Obsolete. strengthening aid; assistance.

OTHER WORDS FOR comfort

1 pacify, calm, solace, gladden.

1, 2 ease.

See synonyms for comfort on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of comfort

1175–1225; (v.) Middle English comfortien, variant of confortien,conforten<Anglo-French, Old French conforter<Late Latin confortāre to strengthen, equivalent to con-con- + -fortāre verbal derivative of Latin fortis strong; (noun) Middle English <Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of the v.

synonym study for comfort

1. 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. 8. See ease.

OTHER WORDS FROM comfort

com·fort·less, adjectiveun·com·fort·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH comfort

comfit, comfort

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use comfort in a sentence

A versatile hoodieHoodies and sweaters may be one of the first things that come to mind when you think of warmth and comfort.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold|Sandra Gutierrez G.|November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
She came from a “Downton Abbey”-esque world of upper-class comforts.
‘The Woman Who Stole Vermeer’ revisits the strange tale of a British heiress who became a notorious art thief|Katharine Weber|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
If you worry that two components feel ambitious, take comfort in this particularly easy, press-in crust, which requires no rolling or chilling.
Tart roasted cranberries and a billowy meringue topping take this pie in a bright, bold direction|Erin Jeanne McDowell|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
That way, you won’t feel like you’ve been kicked out of your comfort zone at the last minute.
Sharing a home office with your partner? Here’s how to keep the peace.|Amanda Long|November 12, 2020|Washington Post

Before the season, Locksley said he took comfort in the development of the starters, but “my concern is we still don’t have the depth that you’re looking for because that’s the one position that you can’t rush the growth.”
Taulia Tagovailoa responded after a rough opener and now Maryland’s offense is rolling|Emily Giambalvo|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
But his reaction—awed, comforted, peaceful—is just a confirmation.
He’s Still Older, Even in the Moonlight: Woody Allen’s May-December Romances Inspire Scrutiny|Teo Bugbee|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although Vanessa comforted herself with the pretence that I had two fathers, in reality—emotional reality, that is—I had none.
House of Cads: Growing Up Amid the Weirdness of Bloomsbury|Jessica Ferri|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Strangers and neighbors comforted each other and sought ways to help.
‘It Sounded Like Someone Kicked My Door In’: The Disaster That Rocked East Harlem|Jacob Siegel|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her hand tightened on mine and her head fell back upon my shoulder, but she still trembled and I petted her and comforted her.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the day that The Times (of London) reported that Brooks would be questioned by police, she wrote that he had comforted her.
Tony Blair Says He Gave 'Informal Advice' to Rebekah Brooks|Nico Hines, Peter Jukes|February 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She rose comforted, and drawing the baby's cradle out into the veranda, seated herself at her embroidery.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
"And you will find them none so ready to send soldiers all this way, Marquise," the Seneschal comforted her.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The rest were comforted by the assurance that Dr. May was still calm, and did not seem to have been injured by what had passed.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
Richard would fain have moralised and comforted, but she felt as if she knew it all before, and heard with languid attention.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for comfort

comfort

/ (ˈkʌmfət) /

noun

a state of ease or well-being

relief from affliction, grief, etc

a person, thing, or event that brings solace or ease

obsolete support

(usually plural) something that affords physical ease and relaxation

verb (tr)

to ease the pain of; soothe; cheer

to bring physical ease to

Derived forms of comfort

comforting, adjectivecomfortingly, adverbcomfortless, adjectivecomfortlessly, adverb

comfortlessness, noun

Word Origin for comfort

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with comfort

comfort

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

comfort

OTHER WORDS FOR comfort

Origin of comfort

synonym study for comfort

OTHER WORDS FROM comfort

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH comfort

Words related to comfort

How to use comfort in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for comfort

Derived forms of comfort

Word Origin for comfort

Other Idioms and Phrases with comfort