soothe

verb

soothed; soothing

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

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 In addition to holding a maxi pad in place, this underwear contains three pockets to hold soothing gel packs at the stomach, gusset, and lower back. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 From soothing pianos in the main menu to energizing electric guitars and epic chants during its biggest battles, the game has a very eclectic array of songs curated by sound director Ryo Yoshi and lead composer Satoshi Hori. George Yang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Opt for soft, soothing materials like a bouclé headboard, velvet armchair, or warm wood nightstand. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 The soothing neutral colors look luxe in any home, too. Paula Lee, Glamour, 14 Mar. 2024 Using air pressure, heat, and vibration, this mask gently massages your temples, helping to soothe sore eyes and headaches. Medea Giordano, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 Key ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide offer hydration and help soothe the skin. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 It was designed for parents to help soothe their babies on the go with any of its 10 sounds: white noise, ocean, rain, water, wind, dryer, fan, rock-a-bye, heartbeat, and hush. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2024 It’s formulated with brightening mulberry extract, alongside soothing elderberry and evening primrose extracts. Iman Balagam, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soothe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near soothe

Cite this Entry

“Soothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soothe. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

soothe

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on soothe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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