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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
Verb
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The smooth Italian leather looks buttery and luxurious, while the simplicity of the silhouette is appeasing my favorite sleek, clean aesthetic.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026 -
Newsom seems to have recognized that appeasing California’s Democrats puts him out of step with the country.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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The actor followed her around at several events related to the wedding, eventually caressing the back of her arm and pressing his knee against hers under the table.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Williams did not explicitly mention tennis, or any sport, in her Super Bowl advert for Ro, but her focus on movement and wellbeing in the context of her softening position on the possibility of a comeback was striking.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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On most prestige shows, a friendship between two women from disparate backgrounds would serve as an emotional anchor, softening both characters.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Whip up a batch of this Sriracha Chicken Noodle Soup—made with ramen and served with extra Sriracha sauce—for a warm, comforting soup with a little spice.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
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Watching Malinin skate, Glenn couldn’t hide her anxiety and received comforting hugs from Bates in the Team USA box.—
Alice Park,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
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At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Trump supported Milei’s fiscal program last year with a $20-billion credit line that succeeded in calming markets and boosting Milei’s prospects in a crucial midterm election in October.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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From my perch on a sun lounger, Friendship Bay stretches out below me – the curve of the powdery sand beach, the impossible blue of the sea and the calming lapping of the waves against the shore.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Akhparian asked while patting himself down and feigning to be in search of a weapon.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The dog then slumped into the boat, with one crew member gently patting it in comfort.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the illuminating Sun in your 4th House of Home sextiles tender Chiron in your 6th House of Work, practical adjustments may also have the benefit of soothing agitated feelings.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Mentally, there's something soothing about the fact that the hotel itself is shrouded in foliage.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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