soothing
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- oversoothing adjective
- oversoothingly adverb
- self-soothing adjective
- soothingly adverb
- soothingness noun
- unsoothing adjective
- unsoothingly adverb
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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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.
When those four astronauts were so far from home, Earth became a tranquil, soothing sight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
“I’m as surprised as anyone, but my best guess is very strong economic momentum in early 2026, and an oil curve that is soothing credit and equity markets.”
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
But she added the "calming and soothing" nature of the game is similar to what she imagined "people get from colouring books or knitting".
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
You might be tempted, with every faraway look in Christian Petzold’s subtly moving “Miroirs No. 3,” to hope for that soothing, enlightened release so often served as catharsis in tales of loss and healing.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
He picked up the child, soothing him in his arms, and then gave him to Ira.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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.
