as in to soothe
to free from distress or disturbance
attempting to salve her conscience, she anonymously sent the store a sum of cash sufficient to cover the merchandise she had shoplifted
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Recent Examples of salve
Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
He’s hired more than 1 million civil servants over the past year, salving the country’s unemployment crisis (and putting the state at even greater risk of bankruptcy).
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
The Lakers limped painfully into the playoffs Saturday night only to delightfully discover a miracle salve.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for salve
Verb
As the federal government shutdown persists, local leaders and organizations announced new fundraising initiatives on Oct. 30 to help salve the impending loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for thousands of Indianapolis residents.
—Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
He’s hired more than 1 million civil servants over the past year, salving the country’s unemployment crisis (and putting the state at even greater risk of bankruptcy).
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
Songs here that start off surprisingly bracing resolve into big, sleek choruses, the work of firm believers in the power of heroic, high-protein mainstream alt-rock as a salve against encroaching darkness.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
The Lakers limped painfully into the playoffs Saturday night only to delightfully discover a miracle salve.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for salve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for salve
Verb
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Also at work are soothing honey and chlorella, to keep redness and irritation in check.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
20 May 2026
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Bedazzling is repetitive in the best way—pick up a gem, place a gem, pick up a gem, place a gem—and that rhythm is soothing.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
19 May 2026
Noun
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River, stream, lake, ocean, or pond–Southerners know that sometimes the best balm for a fraught mind or stressful season is a quick trip to the nearest body of water.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
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The lip balm, on the other hand, blends cocoa butter, coconut oil and shea butter, offering a nourishing — albeit tangy — formula.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Its deep celestial blue translates into a sophisticated, calming backdrop for the home, working across coastal designs and modern interiors alike.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
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After the explosive energy of the first two tracks, things calm way down.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Before this, in the mid 20th century, a standard cut of meat at mealtimes was a pork loin or beef steak, smothered in cream sauce.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
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The latest batch of fragrances capture the very essence of the sun itself — in forms from sprays and spritzes, to creams and lotions.—
Gretta Monahan,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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And why in the world would anyone composing after the Second World War reëmbrace the long-irrelevant late-Romantic idiom of Puccini and Strauss, with its lush harmonies, rich orchestration, and powerful melodies?—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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The irony is that automation, in this case AI, can be prompted to stir people to believe that something is AI-written in how the item is composed, and can also be prompted to fool people into believing something must absolutely be human-written, even though it was prepared by AI.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Some families are also rejecting the eye ointment.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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Some families are also rejecting the eye ointment.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Light energy harnessed in the real world was now playing through the radio of his car in the dream world in the form of melodious static that lulled him either to sleep soundly or to be sound asleep.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Don't let the name Wind Cave National Park lull you into thinking only of the dark and mysterious catacombs of the cave.—
Robert Annis,
Midwest Living,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The best approach is to just keep your skin clean and dry until the blisters scab over; if needed, calamine lotion is a safe option.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
14 May 2026
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While a big tub of the hydrating lotion is quite pricey, this travel-size version is on sale for $43 — and the ideal size for a carry-on bag!—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Salve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/salve. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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