gentle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of GENTLE

to lessen the anger or agitation of <employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day>

Synonyms appease, assuage, conciliate, disarm, gentle, mollify, placate, propitiate

Related Words calm, comfort, console, content, hush, quiet, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize); endear (to), ingratiate; delight, gladden, gratify, please; adulate, blarney, flatter, overpraise, soft-soap; quench, sate, satiate, satisfy; cater (to), humor, indulge; blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle; baby, coddle, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil; dulcify, sweeten

Near Antonyms aggravate, annoy, antagonize, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, cross, exasperate, gall, get, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, put out, rankle, rile, roil, ruffle, vex; provoke, rouse; harass, harry, persecute, pester; agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry; affront, insult, offend, slight

Antonyms anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, ire, madden, outrage

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 caress, gentle, love, pat, pet, stroke

Related Words bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon; feel up, paw; cradle, embrace, enfold, hug; bounce, dandle; knead, massage; baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

to lessen the shock of <adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers>

Synonyms buffer, gentle, soften

Related Words baffle, dampen, deaden, dull, obtund; moderate, modulate, temper; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease; lighten, mitigate, relieve

Near Antonyms heighten, intensify, sharpen

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