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comforting

comforting

134 1.4
Making someone feel less worried or upset
  • adjective
  • /ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ/
translation icon : reconfortante
  • She might need some comforting and I'm gonna be there for her.
  • find comforting
  • comforting to know
  • offer comforting words

These little moments aren't just comforting, they're essential.

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Examples

  • Sharing his grief, Adam reached across to lay a comforting hand on one taut shoulder.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • But I've had it ever since I was a baby, and I find it very comforting.

  • And now we have the comforting light of the doctor being in.

  • We just want to share how comforting and good it is.

  • I love meals that are comforting and warm.

  • It's just a very warm, comforting scent and I love it.

  • Physical care is intimate because of the touching and comforting inherent in good care.

    Academic text (1994)
  • It must be very comforting to know that not everybody hates you.

  • Palpable relief swept over her when she saw the comforting reflection in the glass.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • It was very comforting to hear that my family was safe during the storm.

Synonyms

to reassure
vscomforting
163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

focuses on calming and easing worry rather than specific words or acts
soothing
vscomforting
81 2.9

That makes pain or worry feel less strong

aims more at restoring confidence and easing worry than at physical relief
reassuring
vscomforting
78 3.1

Makes someone feel less worried and calmer

has identical meaning and the same focus on easing worry
to soothe
vscomforting
63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

focuses on giving reassurance and lowering anxiety rather than reducing pain
to console
vscomforting
40 3.9

To comfort someone who feels sad or disappointed

focuses on easing worry and anxiety more broadly than help for sadness
consoling
vscomforting
1 3.4

Giving comfort to someone who is sad or upset

aims more at reducing worry and anxiety rather than only sadness
to solace
vscomforting
1 5.9

To make someone feel less sad or upset

focuses on easing worry and anxiety rather than moral or ethical support
assuring
vscomforting
3.4

Making someone feel confident and less worried

is about easing worry and anxiety rather than creating certainty

Antonyms

81 2.5

Making someone feel sad or worried

distressing
  • Specialized
36 4.6

Causing strong worry and emotional pain

How Comforting

soothing
81 2.9
comforting
134 1.4
reassuring
78 3.1
calming
6 2.6

Surface Forms

comforting positive

Morphology

comforting = comfort (transparent) = comfort + ing

The adjective comes from the verb 'comfort' with the standard participial/adjectival suffix '-ing', denoting 'causing comfort'.

Etymology

Comforting comes from old Latin and French parts: com- meaning 'with' and fort meaning 'strong', so at first it meant to 'give strength' to someone. That's why something comforting helps a person feel less worried and more able to deal with a hard time.