soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h 

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

Synonyms

• assure
• cheer
• comfort
• console
• reassure
• solace

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

Specifically, Murder in a Small Town follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who moves to a quiet, coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

Murder in a Small Town, whose eight-episode first season ended its Fox run in November, follows Karl Alberg (Sutherland), who moves to a quiet, coastal town to soothe a psyche that has been battered by big-city police work. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025

Nightmares are real, and parents struggle to protect and soothe their kids. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025

Colloidal Oatmeal Colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground oatmeal, can help soothe the skin and relieve itchiness. —Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 15 Jan. 2025

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

Kids Definition

soothe

verb

ˈsüt͟h 

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