soothingly

Everyday

In a calm, gentle way that makes someone feel less upset, worried or in pain. tree →

In the lessons

A feelings word in stories and real life: parents speak soothingly to a crying baby, a nurse soothingly tells a child it will be alright. In The Wind in the Willows Rat talks soothingly to Mole when he is frightened or homesick. It also describes sounds and touches: water lapped soothingly, music played soothingly.

Examples

• Mum spoke soothingly to the crying baby. tree →
• «There, there,» said Ratty soothingly. tree →
• The river murmured soothingly in the dark. tree →
• The vet stroked the frightened dog soothingly. tree →
• The cream felt soothingly cool on my sunburn. tree →
• She hummed soothingly until he fell asleep. tree →
• “It is not a great lie,” said Fionn soothingly. tree →

Note

Adverb from «soothing», from the verb «soothe» (soothe, soothed). Spelling: sooth-ing-ly, keep the -th-. Opposite: harshly, roughly.