Definitions

soothe

[sooth] / suð /

VERB

calm, ease

Synonyms

STRONGEST

allay alleviate appease assuage cool mitigate mollify pacify relieve soften

STRONG

becalm cheer compose console dulcify help hush lighten lull quiet quieten settle square still stroke subdue tranquilize unburden

WEAK

balm butter up calm down cool off make nice make up patch things up play up to pour oil on smooth down take the edge off take the sting out untrouble

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate agitate incite increase intensify irritate provoke trouble upset worry worsen

STRONG

arouse bring down depress discourage disturb excite hurt move

WEAK

distress

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

More important, he appeared to soothe their son and heir, Alexei, who suffered from hemophilia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Hopes that diplomacy might continue helped soothe oil markets, pushing benchmark prices below $100 on Tuesday.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Fortunately for Democrats, Donald Trump has stepped in to soothe their nerves.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was awkwardly dispatched to soothe the financial markets while doubling as a kind of economic war correspondent.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

From the kind Swanburne veterinarian she had learned everything she knew about how to soothe frightened animals.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing soothe

Comfy Cozy Lingo

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Motherlode: A Mother's Day Lexicon

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"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale

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