consolation

American  

[kon-suh-ley-shuhn] / ˌkɒn səˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of consoling; console; comfort; solace.

   Synonyms:

   cheer, support, help, succor, relief

2. the state of being consoled. console.

3. someone or something that consoles: console.

   His faith was a consolation during his troubles. Her daughters are a consolation to her.

4. Sports. a game, match, or race for tournament entrants eliminated before the final round, as a basketball game between the losing semifinalists.

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consolation British  

/ kənˈsɒlətərɪ, ˌkɒnsəˈleɪʃən, -trɪ /

noun

1. the act of consoling or state of being consoled; solace

2. a person or thing that is a source of comfort in a time of suffering, grief, disappointment, etc

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Other Word Forms

• consolatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of consolation

1325–75; Middle English consolacioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin consōlātiōn- (stem of consōlātiō ), equivalent to consōlāt ( us ), past participle of consōlārī ( con- con- + sōlā-, stem of sōlārī to comfort, + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion; solace

Example Sentences

Tahnoon was given what many viewed as a consolation prize—control over two of the country’s largest wealth funds, making him the face of the country’s financial arm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Reasonable reasons to resist precious metals haven’t served as consolation for the big investors, however.

From The Wall Street Journal

As for McDermott, there is some small consolation for being fired.

From The Wall Street Journal

But for those gathered at the ruins of Gul Plaza, this is little consolation.

From BBC

I vowed to work doubly hard the next day, but she took little consolation in that promise, showering me with complaints as heavy as hailstones as I rushed out the kitchen door.

From Literature

Related Words

• comfort
• compassion
• encouragement
• pity
• solace
• succor
• sympathy