soothing
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of soothing
Explanation
Something soothing is comforting; it helps calm fears, anxiety, or pain. Cool aloe vera lotion is very soothing on a really bad sunburn, while pacifiers are soothing to screaming babies. The adjective soothing comes to us from the verb soothe, which means "to relieve." So something soothing brings relief and makes you feel better. Soothing music can help you feel more relaxed, while a soothing cup of hot chocolate can warm you up from the frigid cold. And if you fall and scrape your knee? You'll probably wish your mom was there to offer some soothing words and a kiss to make it all better.
Vocabulary lists containing soothing
Unit 1: Telling Details
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"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
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Inside Out & Back Again
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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.
Despite the chaos and movement, the naturally pigmented palette provides a soothing calm, and we’re happy to be swept away.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Easy: Yesterday, I was not only gripping the armrest but gripping the hand of the flight attendant who was sitting down in the aisle, soothing me as I hyperventilated and wept.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
So, rather than picking up your infant every time they start to scream, you wait a bit, maybe two minutes, before going in and saying something comforting, rather than soothing them back to sleep.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
Listeners might feel their pulse slacken as they settle into the music’s soothing triple meter, a recurring cycle of one-two-threes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
“I’ve no objection,” was Meg’s equally soothing remark.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
