calming 1 of 3

adjective

as in relaxing
tending to calm the emotions and relieve stress a calming glass of warm milk

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

calming

2 of 3

noun

as in soothing

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calming

3 of 3

verb

present participle of calm
1
as in lulling
to free from distress or disturbance the president's reassuring words did much to calm the public during the national emergency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in containing
to gain emotional or mental control of he calmed himself before continuing the eulogy

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of calming
Adjective
From humorous and whimsical to elegant and calming, the choice is yours. — Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026 The best way to make sure your words have a calming effect is to bend down to your child’s eye level, hold their hands in yours, and take a few deep breaths. — Francesca Castagnoli, Parents, 4 Aug. 2026 The songs on the album felt like intricate lullabies with a beautiful, calming, druggy sweetness to them. — Liza Lentini, SPIN, 31 July 2026 Cherries and bananas rank among the most calming foods to eat before bed. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026 Besides providing access to a range of suburban adopters with big backyards, the ranch will offer a calming and spacious environment, especially for dogs more than 40 pounds, according to PAWS. — Mick Zawislak, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Featuring top notes of orange, bergamot, and lemon mixed with honeyed florals and the essence of musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood, each item leaves behind a clean, calming, slightly herbaceous scent. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026 Across America charms — all four of my rides last week ended in audience applause — by simply being a calming, relaxed journey that stokes our sense of adventure. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 This very quiet space with very little ambient sound was meant to not feel calming, but like a pressure. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
Noun
The idea is that these stocks benefit from a calming of tensions in the Middle East, regardless of what happens with AI spending near term. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 July 2026 As a very high-octane, easily stressed gal in the entertainment industry, Dave is my calming, grounding force. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026 The swinging design and compression help with vestibular input and calming. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026 At the same time, glycerin, squalane, and tremella mushrooms keep skin comfortably hydrated, while calming extras like bisabolol and Centella asiatica (cica) minimize the chance of irritation. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 8 May 2026 But the only peace on Concrète Waves is the occasional pullback, a calming of the storm rather than the coming of a resolution. — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026 There is self-regulation going on in the initial stages of spiritual development, and this is where calming does come into play. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
The five-piece set includes a plush comforter, throw blanket, shams, and a decorative pillow for calming cohesion, and comes in rich neutrals like creamy beige, midnight blue, and toasty brown. — Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026 It is made with 96% snail secretion filtrate, a humectant-rich ingredient known for calming irritation, fading post-acne marks and supporting skin repair. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026 Nestled in nature, each of the 36 guest rooms embraces local craftsmanship with wood furnishings; soft lighting has a calming effect. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 Plus, Deep Rooted is versatile enough to pair with soft neutrals, expressive blues, and calming greens. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026 Potential improvements include reopening the bridge, better lighting, public art, traffic calming and improved ADA accessibility. — Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 These small bags are packed with items meant to help ease anxiety on the go, from sensory tools and calming scents to snacks and headphones. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Teens can learn to spot strong emotions, take a break when needed, and use calming tools before responding. — Parents, 24 Aug. 2026 Habity Design The Habity bedside clock looks like a familiar retro alarm clock, but inside sits a low-power e-paper screen, a speaker, and a small collection of calming sounds. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calming
  1. relaxing
  2. soothing
  3. lulling
  4. containing
  5. comforting
  6. composing
  7. quieting
Adjective
  • My nail tech, Michelle, was extremely patient and accommodating throughout the process, and the entire experience was genuinely relaxing.
    — Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The property’s highlight is the infinity pool, the ideal spot to spend a relaxing afternoon.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxing
Noun
  • Many gliding swings also feature music and vibrations for extra soothing.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This became a soothing refrain whenever there was a momentary, impossible-to-plan-for hiccup (like the arrival time of custom’s agents) shared with the guests.
    — Maria Yagoda, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of soothing
Verb
  • Parsons went on to self-release multiple full-length soundtrack albums of ominous sci-fi pads, glitchy electronics, and lulling melodies before A24 announced the release of a feature-length film.
    — Harry Thorfinn-George, Pitchfork, 11 June 2026
  • The project was about permeating the masses, gradually lulling them with propaganda.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of lulling
Verb
  • Pricing Happy Head’s topical solution is billed on a monthly basis, with a single bottle containing two ounces of treatment solution.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mass spectrometry revealed that the broken containers had once held something containing the chemical compounds theobromine, theophylline, caffeine, and paraxanthine.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of containing
Adjective
  • Booze, black pepper, and leather accords give the note a sultry, noir bend, while white musks and soft florals transform vanilla into something comforting and cocooning.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
  • An improbable preparation that somehow manages to be immediately familiar and comforting, this cheeseburger fried rice is a little peek into all the fun going down at Agnes and Sherman in Houston, one of our Best New Restaurants of 2026.
    — Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of comforting
Verb
  • Rather than composing the harmful instruction in plaintext, the hacker encrypts it.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Eisenberg wrote, directed and produced the film, also appearing in it and composing its original music and lyrics.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of composing
Verb
  • Seattle comforts you with its natural beauty, quieting your mind and heightening your senses.
    — Giovanna Caravetta, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Five minutes later, Messi gave Miami the lead, curling his shot in tight space past three defenders, quieting the sellout crowd at Subaru Park.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of quieting

Browse Nearby Words

calmed (down)
calming
calming (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Calming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calming. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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