consolation

[kon-suh-ley-shuhn]

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.

consolation

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• consolatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consolation¹

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

Taking away Richarlison's stunning chip from distance to earn the visitors a consolation goal, there was only ever one winner in as one-sided a north London derby as you can get.

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A flying Rees-Zammit, back in red after his failed foray into the NFL, produced a stunning finish for a late consolation try before Clarke grabbed his second to take New Zealand past 50 points.

Read more on Barron's

It’s not hard to imagine, as Ms. Vaill does, that Angelica would seek romantic consolation elsewhere.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In her second book, Hekker noted some consolations for first wives.

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Tre Tucker grabbed a consolation touchdown for Las Vegas before Dallas's final points came from a safety.

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Related Words

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