Give moral or emotional strength to.

synonyms: comfort, console, solace.

Roget 174: be moderate etc. adj.; keep within bounds, keep within compass; sober down, settle down; keep the peace, remit, relent, take in sail.    moderate, soften, mitigate, temper, accoy^†; attemper^†, contemper^†; mollify, lenify^†, dulcify^†, dull, take off the edge, blunt, obtund^†, sheathe, subdue, chasten; sober down, tone down, smooth down; weaken etc. 160; lessen etc. (decrease) 36; check palliate.    tranquilize, pacify, assuage, appease, swag, lull, soothe, compose, still, calm, calm down, cool, quiet, hush, quell, sober, pacify, tame, damp, lay, allay, rebate, slacken, smooth, alleviate, rock to sleep, deaden, smooth, throw cold water on, throw a wet blanket over, turn off; slake; curb etc. (restrain) 751; tame etc. (subjugate) 749; smooth over; pour oil on the waves, pour oil on the troubled waters; pour balm into, mattre de l'eau dans son vin [Fr.].    go out like a lamb, roar you as gently as any sucking dove" [Midsummer-Night's Dream]. ... show more

Roget 834: relieve, ease, alleviate, mitigate, palliate, soothe; salve; soften, soften down; foment, stupe^†, poultice; assuage, allay.    cheer, comfort, console; enliven; encourage, bear up, pat on the back, give comfort, set at ease; gladden the heart, cheer the heart; inspirit, invigorate.    remedy; cure etc. (restore) 660; refresh; pour balm into, pour oil on.    smooth the ruffled brow of care, temper the wind to the shorn lamb, lay the flattering unction to one's soul.    disburden etc. (free) 705; take a load off one's chest, get a load off one's chest, take off a load of care.    be relieved; breathe more freely, draw a long breath; take comfort; dry the tears, dry the eyes, wipe the tears, wipe the eyes.    ... show more

Roget 933: flatter, praise to the skies, puff; wheedle, cajole, glaver^†, coax; fawn upon, faun upon; humor, gloze, soothe, pet, coquet, slaver, butter; jolly [U.S.]; bespatter, beslubber^†, beplaster^†, beslaver^†; lay it on thick, overpraise; earwig, cog, collogue^†; truckle to, pander to, pandar to^†, suck up to, kiss the ass of [Vulg.], pay court to; court; creep into the good graces of, curry favor with, hang on the sleeve of; fool to the top of one's bent; lick the dust.    lay the flattering unction to one's soul, gild the pill, make things pleasant.    overestimate etc. 482; exaggerate etc. 549.    ... show more

Dutch: troosten, vertroosten

Cause to feel better.