soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h How to pronounce soothe (audio)
soothed; soothing
Synonyms of soothe

transitive verb

1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: relieve, alleviate
soothe a cough
3
: to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to
music soothes the soul

intransitive verb

: to bring peace, composure, or quietude
soother noun

Synonyms of soothe

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Examples of soothe in a Sentence

The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer. This cream soothes aching muscles. Her nerves were soothed by a warm bath. Nothing can soothe their pain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rooms All 195 rooms are dressed in a soft gray and blue palette, and the energy is calm and soothing after a day in one of the loudest parts of Manhattan. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 Anything that soothes that, or gives them more-than-human capacities—that’s just unhelpful to them. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 By the time a problem grows too big to soothe, the early warning that would have caught it cheaply has stopped arriving. — Mohamed Al Hashemi, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Moisturizing Cream, which carries the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, contains three different types of ceramides to soothe dry skin and help rebuild its protective barrier. — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soothe

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sothen to verify, from Old English sōthian, from sōth

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of soothe was in 1617

Rhymes for soothe

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Soothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soothe. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

soothe

verb
ˈsüt͟h How to pronounce soothe (audio)
soothed; soothing
1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: alleviate, relieve
the lotion soothed his sunburn
3
: to bring comfort : calm down
music soothes the soul
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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