gentling

verb

Definition of gentlingnext
present participle of gentle
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
  1. appeasing
  2. softening
  3. calming
  4. soothing
Verb
  • The new strategy allows streamers to provide subscribers with new content while appeasing Wall Street by reigning in spending.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024
  • There are amazing innovations in the industry that will help both consumers and brands to become more sustainable while appeasing regulations.
    Lindsey Bartlett, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of appeasing
Verb
  • Manufacturing and services sector surveys have pointed to slower hiring, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell earlier this week characterized the labor market as solid but softening.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2024
  • Next, as the cheese reaches the temperature of water from a hot tap, the proteins within it start losing water, shrinking and softening.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024
Definition of softening
Verb
  • Is that a failing, or is that actually calming and equating to a new stage in his life?
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Oct. 2024
  • Made for enveloping spaces in the comfort of its eternally calming nature, this versatile and captivating brown from the 2025 Colormix® Forecast imparts richness in spaces that call for the stability of a refined earthen tone.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2024
Definition of calming
Verb
  • For irritated skin, look for a mask with a cooling effect and soothing ingredients, such as 111Skin’s Rose Gold Brightening Mask Set.
    Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Equally adept at whisking off makeup residue, sunscreen, and other impurities—while leaving moisture intact—the face wash is fortified with soothing botanical ingredients with a designer pedigree.
    Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of soothing
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near gentling

gentlewomen

gentling

gently

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Cite this Entry

“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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