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
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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
-
So far, efforts at appeasing the MAGA outrage machine have only backfired.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025 -
In fact, Western leaders are mostly appeasing domestic constituencies outraged by the suffering of ordinary Gazans.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Young Pope star was seen caressing Coan’s back and whispering in her ear.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The singer was spotted in pictures shared to social media, gently caressing the baby bump of his romantic partner.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Cessna said the 6,756-yard course continues to evolve in subtle ways, softening certain parts for higher-handicap golfers, while ratcheting up the challenges elsewhere.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
In 2025, even as the economy shows signs of softening, people are still traveling in droves.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not exactly a pep talk, but comforting nevertheless.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Designed to burn cleaner, the candles’ comforting scents will fill any room for up to 150 hours.—
Melody Kazel,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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According to the pages labeled as court exhibits, Priscilla rushed to her daughter’s bedside and was holding her hand, stroking her face, and telling her she was loved as family members gathered.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
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No one wants to follow an ego-stroking social media account with zero content value.—
Peter Boyd,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In fact, throughout the house there is an emphasis on calming colors like taupes, off-whites, and creams.—
Juliet Izon,
Architectural Digest,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Skip the sheep-counting and cup of chamomile, and luxuriate in the sleep-inducing blend of calming lavender oil, soothing balsam resin, moisturizing sweet almond oil, and relaxing magnesium salt flakes instead.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
2 Sep. 2025
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At times, its puzzle-solving and chaotic arcade shooting felt like patting your head while rubbing your stomach.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For lovers of Hatch, there’s a portable baby-soothing version that boasts the same comforting sounds and no app, bluetooth, or wifi required.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
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As the infectious beat progresses and Cameron's soothing vocals sing the words dedicated to her lover, fans see clips of David shirtless and leaning in to give her a kiss.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
19 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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