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

Their conclusion was reassuring in one sense: a total collapse this century looked unlikely.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

People trusted his read on the economy precisely because he was more interested in being right than in sounding reassuring.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Shortly after it released the new data aimed at reassuring investors, Abivax set out to raise $600 million earlier this week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

This has been reassuring to some in the party.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

Allen was also listening for the reassuring noises of animals: the whine of mosquitoes, the whir of crickets, the scurry of rats in the underbrush.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

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