soothe

[ sooth ]
/ suð /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR soothe ON THESAURUS.COM

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, noun self-soothed, adjective un·soothed, adjective

Words nearby soothe

soonest, soong, soony, soot, sooth, soothe, soothfast, soothing, soothsay, soothsayer, soothsaying

Words related to soothe

mitigate, appease, assuage, relieve, soften, alleviate, pacify, mollify, allay, cool, tranquilize, console, help, subdue, lighten, dulcify, quiet, stroke, hush, cheer

Example sentences from the Web for soothe

British Dictionary definitions for soothe

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