reassuring

[ree-uh-shoor-ing, -shur-]

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.

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

• reassuringly adverb
• unreassuring adjective
• unreassuringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reassuring¹

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

Example Sentences

But for many Palestinians rebuilding their homes and lives Tuesday amid Gaza's rubble, the sight of the Hamas militants was reassuring.

Read more on Barron's

Claire says the friend was "reassuring", explaining that she thought she was "being kind" by giving space, unaware of the hurt caused.

Read more on BBC

Thirteen-year-old Archie agrees but says "you've got to keep in mind it was put in for a safety thing. So, it's kind of scary on the one hand, but at the same time reassuring".

Read more on BBC

Beloved country music star and pop culture icon Dolly Parton opened up about her health on Wednesday, reassuring fans in a video shared to social media that she’s in better health than some might think.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The buzz of his drone is especially reassuring to people where he's flying today – we're at Dee Why, a nearby beach in the bay where the recent fatal attack happened.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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