soothing

[ soo-th ing ]
/ ˈsu ðɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR soothing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

that soothes: a soothing voice.
tending to assuage pain: a soothing cough syrup.

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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
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decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of soothing

First recorded in 1590–1600; soothe + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM soothing

Words nearby soothing

soony, soot, sooth, soothe, soothfast, soothing, soothsay, soothsayer, soothsaying, sooty, sooty blotch

Definition for soothing (2 of 2)

soothe
[ sooth ]
/ suð /

verb (used with object), soothed, sooth·ing.

to tranquilize or calm, as a person or the feelings; relieve, comfort, or refresh: soothing someone's anger; to soothe someone with a hot drink.
to mitigate, assuage, or allay, as pain, sorrow, or doubt: to soothe sunburned skin.

verb (used without object), soothed, sooth·ing.

to exert a soothing influence; bring tranquillity, calm, ease, or comfort.

Origin of soothe

before 950; Middle English sothen to verify, Old English sōthian, equivalent to sōth sooth + -ian infinitive suffix; Modern English sense shift “to verify” > “to support (a person's statement)” > “to encourage” > “to calm”

synonym study for soothe

1. See comfort, allay.

OTHER WORDS FROM soothe

sooth·er, nounself-soothed, adjectiveun·soothed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to soothing

calming, reassuring, relieving, relaxing, consoling, alleviating, easing, remedying, warming, consolatory, palliative

Example sentences from the Web for soothing

British Dictionary definitions for soothing (1 of 2)

soothing
/ (ˈsuːðɪŋ) /

adjective

having a calming, assuaging, or relieving effect

Derived forms of soothing

soothingly, adverbsoothingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for soothing (2 of 2)

soothe
/ (suːð) /

verb

(tr) to make calm or tranquil
(tr) to relieve or assuage (pain, longing, etc)
(intr) to bring tranquillity or relief

Derived forms of soothe

soother, noun

Word Origin for soothe

C16 (in the sense: to mollify): from Old English sōthian to prove; related to Old Norse sanna to assert; see sooth
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