Showing results for "reassuring"

• present participle of reassure.

reassuring

American  

[ree-uh-shoor-ing, -shur-] / ˌri əˈʃʊər ɪŋ, -ˈʃɜr- /

adjective

1. restoring or boosting confidence, certainty, or security.

   All children deserve safety, comfort, privacy, and reassuring routines.

   The reassuring news is that the insects don't carry nearly enough of the virus to infect a human.

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noun

1. the act or process of restoring or boosting confidence, certainty, or security.

   One drawback is that telemedicine does not allow for the physical comforting and reassuring of a patient.

Other Word Forms

• unreassuring
  adjective
• reassuringly
  adverb
• unreassuringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of reassuring

First recorded in 1700–10; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; reassur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun sense

Explanation

Something reassuring comforts or inspires you. A reassuring smile can help to calm a nervous speaker who's about to give a speech. When you're anxious about singing in the talent show, some reassuring words from your best friend or your dad's reassuring hug can make you feel much more relaxed and confident. And fearful flyers sometimes find the calm voice of the captain reassuring. This adjective comes from the verb reassure, or "restore to confidence," which adds re-, or "again," to assure, which has the Latin root securus, "safe or secure."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reassuring

I was speaking on my chunky cellphone with a client about Alan Greenspan’s “irrational exuberance” speech, reassuring him that equities were still a good investment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

"Soriot stuck to full-year sales and profits guidance and reassuring updates on the drug development pipeline also helped to boost the shares," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

AI companies announced hundreds of billions of dollars in investments after the DeepSeek shock, reassuring markets that the AI revolution was real.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

But it was not reassuring in every sense.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

How reassuring that she thought he had a chance.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• assistance
• backing
• cheer
• comfort
• confidence
• consolation
• faith
• fortitude
• incentive
• inspiration
• optimism
• reassurance
• relief
• reward
• stimulation
• stimulus