soothe
3 synonyms and 1 antonym for soothe, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To calm someone down or make a painful or unpleasant feeling less intense.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use soothe
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
soothe a baby
soothe the pain
soothing voice
Etymology
From Old English sothian, "to prove true, confirm" — related to "sooth" (truth). The sense shifted over centuries from "confirm what someone says" to "comfort them," as agreeing with someone naturally calms them down.
Full origin of soothe →Frequently asked questions
What does “soothe” mean?
The word “soothe” means to calm someone down or make a painful or unpleasant feeling less intense. In plain terms, to calm someone, or ease pain or tension.
How do you pronounce “soothe”?
“Soothe” is pronounced sooth (/suːð/ in IPA).
How do you use “soothe” in a sentence?
Here is “soothe” used in a sentence: “She rocked the baby gently to soothe him.”
What part of speech is “soothe”?
“Soothe” is a verb.
Where does the word “soothe” come from?
The word “soothe” comes from Old English. From Old English sothian, "to prove true, confirm" — related to "sooth" (truth). The sense shifted over centuries from "confirm what someone says" to "comfort them," as agreeing with someone naturally calms them down.
How many meanings does “soothe” have?
“Soothe” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to calm someone down or make a painful or unpleasant feeling less intense.
