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Synonyms

demulcent

American  
[dih-muhl-suhnt] / dɪˈmʌl sənt /

adjective

  1. soothing or mollifying, as a medicinal substance.


noun

  1. a demulcent substance or agent, often mucilaginous, as for soothing or protecting an irritated mucous membrane.

demulcent British  
/ dɪˈmʌlsənt /

adjective

  1. soothing; mollifying

"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

noun

  1. a drug or agent that soothes the irritation of inflamed or injured skin surfaces

"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

Etymology

Origin of demulcent

1725–35; < Latin dēmulcent- (stem of dēmulcēns, present participle of dēmulcere to stroke down, soften), equivalent to dē- de- + mulc ( ere ) to soothe + -ent- -ent

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.

Honey acts as a demulcent, meaning it calms down irritated tissues by coating them.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 31, 2022

You can hear it in the Weeknd’s demulcent falsetto, in Rihanna’s unruffled cool, in Drake’s creamier verses, even in Justin Bieber’s buffed edges.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2017

While the absence of menthol in most Luden’s flavors make them toothsome, they do, unlike, say, Life Savers, contain pectin, a demulcent, which coats irritated mucous membranes.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2011

The divine then composes his spirits "by the gentle sedative of a large cup of tea, the demulcent of a well-buttered muffin, and the tonic of a small lobster."

From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2010

This is demulcent to the chest, or to the urinary passages, being also slightly laxative.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas