GENTLING Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

gentling

verb

present participle of gentle

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling

Verb

The bill now also includes a compromise on stablecoin yield aimed at appeasing banking interests by directing the Treasury secretary to restrict rewards if deposit flight from community banks occurs on a substantial scale.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
In 1938, British, French, German and Italian leaders concluded the Munich Agreement, which was aimed at appeasing Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of appeasing

Verb

In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
In the snap, Portman, who’s expecting her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, could be seen standing in front of an apartment balcony in an oversized blue button-down, caressing her stomach.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Definition of caressing

Verb

Even as Democrats target his Virginia district to capitalize on a favorable 2026 environment, McGuire is doing the opposite of Republicans in some competitive races, who are softening their ties to Trump.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
This all lends itself to a softening market for fashion and apparel — even the most loyal customers are pulling back.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of softening

Verb

That means the baby’s crib or bassinet can be next to the parents’ bed, which makes feeding and comforting easier, but the baby should sleep on a separate surface.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
The food is a mixed bag—ranging from comforting to unimpressive to genuinely delicious, in the case of Or’esh, which was the clear standout.

— Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of comforting

Verb

Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there.

— Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.

— Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026

Definition of stroking

Verb

The staff are friendly and are happy to facilitate requests like for in-room Peloton bikes, special calming playlists or local neighborhood tips.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
The latest, directed by Julio Quintana, stars Zachary Levi and is fitfully diverting, draped with calming New Mexico scenery.

— Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of calming

Verb

That’s why his five fellow umpires made a point of patting him on the back or shoulder before jogging to their positions for the first pitch.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
In this case, there’s no swiping or rubbing at all—just let the pads sit and soak in for a few minutes before gently patting in the excess.

— Jenny Jin, Glamour, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of patting

Verb

Inside, the lobby is dimly lit in soothing lavender and blue and house music is piped in by surround sound.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Also noteworthy are the antioxidant-rich green microalgae (which lend themselves to the formula's natural hue), firming vegan peptides, and redness-soothing niacinamide.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026

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.

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gentlewomen

gentling

gently

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“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gentling

verb

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