Reassurance
/ˌriːəˈʃʊərəns/
Definitions
The act of making someone feel less worried or uncertain.
/ˌriːəˈʃʊərəns/
The act of giving someone confidence or removing their doubts.
The doctor's words of reassurance calmed her fears.
💡 Simply: Reassurance is like a hug for your feelings. It's when someone says or does something that makes you feel better when you're worried or unsure about something. For example, if you're scared of a monster under your bed, your mom giving you reassurance might mean she checks under your bed and says, 'See? There's nothing there! You're safe.'
👶 For kids: Making someone feel better when they're worried.
More Examples
She needed some reassurance that she had made the right decision.
He offered her a gesture of reassurance, placing his hand over hers.
How It's Used
"Therapists often provide reassurance to patients experiencing anxiety."
"She sought reassurance from her partner about their future."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
Words of reassurance
Comforting words used to alleviate someone's fears or doubts.
"The nurse offered words of reassurance to the worried family members."
From Middle French *rëassurer* (to assure again), from *re-* (again) + *assurer* (to assure), from Latin *ad-* (to) + *securus* (secure).
The word 'reassurance' has been used in its modern sense since the early 19th century, primarily in contexts of comfort and support.
Memory tip
Think of a comforting *sureness* – removing the 're' (doubt).
Word Origin
"to assure again"