Synonyms

consoling

American

[kuhn-soh-ling] / kənˈsoʊ lɪŋ /

adjective

alleviating or lessening grief, sorrow, or disappointment; giving comfort.

He gave his companion a consoling clap on the shoulder.
The consoling power of the book arises not so much from the humor as from the detail with which the author renders his world.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of consoling

consol(e) ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Vocabulary lists containing consoling

Umberto Eco (1932-2016) Tribute List

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Consoling a grieving woman outside a Shanghai funeral home.

From New York Times • Jan. 10, 2023

Consoling narratives must be patched together from transient fragments of experience.

From The Guardian • Aug. 13, 2017

Consoling tales about defeating nazism remain perennially popular, but darker counterfactual stories have gradually been reclaiming our attention.

From The Guardian • Feb. 3, 2017

Consoling crying, fixing boo boos, cleaning up poop was all part of the fun.

From Scientific American • Apr. 14, 2014

Consoling hope, which, encourages me to look with confidence into eternity!

From The Amulet by Conscience, Hendrik

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