George A. Parks
Did you know?
Aromatic ointments and fragrances are the bomb. They are also, literally, balms: healing substances and soothing scents with the power to ease both mind and body. The original balm, what Latin-speakers referred to as balsamum, was the oleoresin of a species of balsam tree. In Anglo-French, balsamum became basme and baume, spellings which entered Middle English and later became balm. Balm eventually begat the adjective balmy, used to describe things with a balm’s comforting, calming qualities, as when Shakespeare’s Othello speaks of “balmy slumbers.” Today balmy is typically used to describe the weather—balmy breezes, balmy temperatures, balmy spring afternoons, et al—conditions that are neither too hot nor too cold, but just right—Goldilocks conditions, even.
Examples of balmy in a Sentence
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Despite a relatively balmy weather forecast, there is one cold reality.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
The 15-minute walk to the stadium was beautiful, the weather a balmy 90 degrees — a good 40 degrees above average for March.
—Dominick Williams
march 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Skies should be mostly clear Saturday night, but balmy south winds will continue to keep overnight temperatures above 62 degrees before dawn Sunday.
—Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balmy
Cite this Entry
“Balmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balmy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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