1
as in appeasing
to lessen the anger or agitation of
employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in caressing
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner
soothingly gentled his cat's head as she was being treated by the vet
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in softening
to lessen the shock of
adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
Verb
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Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026 -
But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On the other hand, taupe bags work just as well with bold color pairings, softening them with a sense of ease.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
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So far lawmakers haven’t, slowing, softening and then shooting down a bipartisan measure that would have enlisted the state Department of Agriculture to take on the burgeoning pest.—
Mark Dee
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rescue dog from Huntington Beach, California, who worked as a dedicated therapy dog comforting veterans, was a five-time dog surfing world champion and was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2024, according to the Surfers' Hall of Fame website.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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For quite some time, the repetitive daily schedule was comforting for a methodical person such as myself.—
Des Moines Register,
Des Moines Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At first, Hanke thought Miyabi was just stroking his ego.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
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She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Modernizing Baltimore's infrastructure Nearly $300 million would be used for transportation improvements under the proposal, including for traffic calming, resurfacing, ADA compliance, traffic signals and more.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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This blue-and-ivory area rug brings in a soft, calming palette without feeling too bold.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
Lindsey Bahr,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
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David Zaslav stopped by to chat with DiCaprio too, patting his star on the back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This Burt’s Bees set has six travel-sized mani-pedi essentials, including a soothing foot cream and buttery hand salve that protects dry, chapped skin.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
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Combining a sound machine with a comfortable bedroom setup can mimic the soothing experience of being outdoors in a safe, dry tent during a rainstorm, providing both comfort and sensory grounding, according to Gorovoy.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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