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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentling
Verb
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Nevertheless, Ed still idolized Augusta and would grow to become obsessed with appeasing her, according to Biography.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025 -
So far, efforts at appeasing the MAGA outrage machine have only backfired.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
20 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
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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
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The reading brought a sigh of relief, easing concerns that the economy was facing a double whammy of a softening labor market with reaccelerating inflation.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
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Truly rotten pumpkins also don't make good toys or feed for wildlife—whether the wildlife around your home or as feed or entertainment for animals at the zoo or local farm—though pumpkins that are just softening are ideal for this role.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gooey butter cake is beloved for its, well, gooey texture and warm, comforting flavors that are decadent but not fussy or overwhelming.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
23 Oct. 2025
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Food spans across the board from tamales to ice cream and tacos to warm-and-comforting atole drinks.—
Lisa Hix,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One game, especially one so dominated by the defense, certainly isn’t enough to decide whether this is even an issue, but noted QB whisperer O’Connell has to be stroking his chin.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
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But Ethan’s out there getting loose and stroking it.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Create a wind-down routine, such as reading, journaling, or listening to calming music.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
22 Oct. 2025
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The truth is, there’s solid science behind ginger’s gut-calming powers.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the video, officers are seen repeatedly patting the baby's back until Makai -- who was wearing pajamas adorned with police cars -- was able to breathe on his own.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
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Without missing a beat, the teen jumped into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver and patting the customer on the back before the man sat back down.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nearly a million acres of wilderness stretch across Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, but in the heart of it are three mineral pools—their waters naturally heated within the earth and bubbling at a soothing 99 to 104 degrees.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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Ginger Can Support Overall Digestive Health Beyond soothing an upset stomach, ginger may also support overall digestive health.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Gentling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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