gentle | Definition of gentle

gentle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of gentle

1 to lessen the anger or agitation of

employees soon learned that their hot-tempered boss needed to be gentled several times a day

Synonyms of gentle

appease, assuage, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

Words Related to gentle

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 of gentle

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

harass, harry, persecute, pester

agitate, discomfort, distress, disturb, fret, perturb, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

affront, insult, offend, slight

Antonyms of gentle

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

2 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 of gentle

caress, fondle, love, pat, pet, stroke

Words Related to gentle

bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon

cradle, embrace, enfold, hug

baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

3 to lessen the shock of

adding a bit of sugar to the salsa will gentle the hot spiciness of the chili peppers

Synonyms of gentle

buffer, cushion, soften

Words Related to gentle

baffle, dampen, deaden, dull, obtund

moderate, modulate, temper

allay, alleviate, assuage, ease

lighten, mitigate, relieve

Near Antonyms of gentle

heighten, intensify, sharpen