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 of soothe

• reassure
• assure
• comfort

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

The Sea to Soul treatment, for example, uses soothing Pacific seaweed fronds, warm kelp water, and a green tea seaweed salt glow exfoliation to target muscle tension and a glacial clay mask to firm the skin. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Shark DePuffi Instant Contrast Therapy Tool Launched just this year, Shark’s DePuffi has quickly become a must-have for beauty gurus looking to sculpt, depuff, and soothe their faces in minutes. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Hudson’s Bay’s financial baggage did little to soothe vendors waiting to be paid. — Rachel Felder, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2026

History was repeating, ancient bonds once damaged in war, silenced, and soothed in the quiet moments after. — Nicky Robertson, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for soothe

• smooth
• sooth

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