Comfort — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkəm(p)-fərt/ com·fort

Meaning & Definition of Comfort

Comfort (verb)

  1. to give strength and hope to, cheer
  2. to ease the grief or trouble of, console

Comfort (noun)

  1. strengthening aid:
  2. assistance, support
  3. consolation in time of trouble or worry, solace

Comfort (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feeling of ease from grief or trouble

    "the mourners found comfort in their pastor's words"

    similar: cheer, consolation, relief, solace
    related: encouragement, inspiration, uplift, assurance, reassurance, alleviation, assuagement, mitigation, contentment, gladness, happiness, commiseration, empathy, sympathy, aid, assistance, help, succor
    near: anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture

  2. something that adds to one's ease of living

    "a family campground with all the comforts of home"

    similar: accommodation, amenity, convenience, creature comfort, luxury, mod con (chiefly British), nicety
    related: bonus, extra, benefit, help, service, anodyne, solace, delight, indulgence, joy, pleasure
    opposite: burden, millstone, weight

  3. reduction of or freedom from pain

    "a life of comfort"

    similar: alleviation, ease, release, relief
    related: appeasement, assuagement, decrease, diminishment, mitigation, moderation, mollification, calming, salving, soothing
    near: discomfort, unrest, agony, anguish, misery, suffering, torment, torture, ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge

  4. something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary

    "a hotel room featuring an array of domestic comforts"

    similar: amenity, extra, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity
    related: extravagance, nonessential, dainty, delicacy, nicety, treat, accessory, accoutrement, bells and whistles, option
    opposite: basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement

Comfort (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to ease the grief or distress of

    "the first responders did their best to comfort the victims of the terrible tornado"

    similar: assure, cheer, console, reassure, solace, soothe
    related: commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize, boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift, allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve, calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize
    opposite: distress, torment, torture, trouble
    near: demoralize, discourage, dishearten, fret, upset, worry, aggravate, intensify, worsen, annoy, irk, irritate, harass, pester

Related Entry: Comfort station (noun)

Comfort station is a different word from Comfort. The synonyms below are for comfort station, not for comfort.

  1. a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste

    "a theme park abundantly supplied with comfort stations"

    similar: bath, bathroom, bog (British), can, cloakroom (British), convenience (chiefly British), head, john, latrine, lavatory, loo (chiefly British), potty, restroom, toilet, washroom, water closet
    related: commode, pan (British), pot, garderobe, jakes, outhouse, privy, half bath, powder room, ladies (chiefly British), ladies' room, men's room

Related Entry: Comfort stations (noun)

Comfort stations is a different word from Comfort. The synonyms below are for comfort stations, not for comfort.

  1. a room furnished with a fixture for flushing body waste

    "a theme park abundantly supplied with comfort stations"

    similar: bathrooms, baths, bogs (British), cans, cloakrooms (British), conveniences (chiefly British), heads, johns, latrines, lavatories, loos (chiefly British), potties, restrooms, toilets, washrooms, water closets
    related: commodes, pans (British), pots, garderobes, jakes, outhouses, privies, half baths, powder rooms, ladies (chiefly British), ladies' rooms, men's rooms

Related Entry: Creature comfort (noun)

Creature comfort is a different word from Comfort. The synonyms below are for creature comfort, not for comfort.

  1. something that adds to one's ease of living

    "she's too addicted to creature comforts to enjoy roughing it, even for a few days"

    similar: accommodation, amenity, comfort, convenience, luxury, mod con (chiefly British), nicety
    related: bonus, extra, benefit, help, service, anodyne, solace, delight, indulgence, joy, pleasure
    opposite: burden, millstone, weight

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Comfort

The most common words with a similar meaning to Comfort:

Chiefly British: mod con
cheer, consolation, relief, solace, accommodation, amenity, convenience, creature comfort, luxury, nicety, alleviation, ease, release, extra, frill, indulgence, superfluity, assure, console, reassure, soothe

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Comfort

Words with the opposite meaning of Comfort:

burden, millstone, weight, basic, essential, fundamental, must, necessity, requirement, distress, torment, torture, trouble

Related Words for Comfort

encouragement, inspiration, uplift, assurance, reassurance, assuagement, mitigation, contentment, gladness, happiness, commiseration, empathy, sympathy, aid, assistance, help, succor, bonus, benefit, service, anodyne, delight, joy, pleasure, appeasement, decrease, diminishment, moderation, mollification, calming

Near Antonyms of Comfort

anguish, heartache, heartbreak, discomfort, unrest, agony, misery, suffering, ache, pain, pang, prick, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, fret, upset, worry, aggravate, intensify, worsen, annoy, irk, irritate

Word Forms of Comfort

Inflections: comforted, comforting, comforts

Derived words: comfortingly (adverb), comfortless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Comfort

Middle English comforten, conforten "to strengthen spiritually, inspire with courage, exort, cheer up, encourage, invigorate," borrowed from Anglo-French conforter, comforter, borrowed from Late Latin confortāre "to strengthen, restore strength to, invigorate, cure" (Medieval Latin also "to cheer, reassure"), from Latin con- con- + Late Latin -fortāre, verbal derivative of Latin fortis "strong, robust" fort

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Comfort

Words & Phrases Containing Comfort

comfort food, comfort station, comfort zone, cold comfort, creature comfort, in the comfort of one's own home, take comfort in

Frequently Asked Questions about Comfort

What does "Comfort" mean?

"Comfort" means to give strength and hope to, cheer. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to give strength and hope to, cheer. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Comfort"?

Other words for "Comfort" include cheer, consolation, relief, solace, accommodation, amenity, convenience and creature comfort. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Comfort" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Comfort"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Comfort". Common alternatives include cheer, consolation, relief, solace, accommodation, amenity, convenience, creature comfort, luxury and mod con.

What is the opposite of "Comfort"?

Antonyms of "Comfort" include burden, millstone, weight, basic, essential, fundamental, must and necessity. Near antonyms include anguish, heartache, heartbreak and discomfort.

How do you use "Comfort" in a sentence?

Examples of "Comfort" in a sentence: "the mourners found comfort in their pastor's words"; "a family campground with all the comforts of home"; "a life of comfort".

Is "Comfort" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Comfort" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Comfort" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Comfort" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Comfort"?

"Comfort" is pronounced /ˈkəm(p)-fərt/ and divided into syllables as com·fort.