Reassurance: meaning, definitions and examples

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reassurance

 

[ ˌriːəˈʃʊərəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

feeling of relief

Reassurance is the act of giving or receiving support, comfort, or confidence to someone who is feeling anxious or insecure. It is a way of providing assurance or encouragement to alleviate doubts or fears.

Synonyms

comfort, encouragement, support.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
reassurance

When you want to reduce someone's anxiety or doubts by offering them confidence and assurance.

  • She needed some reassurance before her speech
  • He gave her a reassuring smile
comfort

When you want to ease someone's pain or stress, offering them emotional relief and support.

  • She comforted him after he lost his job
  • The warm blanket and a kind word comforted her
support

When you want to offer help or assistance, either emotionally, physically, or financially.

  • His parents gave him a lot of support during his studies
  • She received support from her friends during the difficult time
encouragement

When you want to give someone confidence or enthusiasm to continue their efforts or to take on a challenge.

  • Her teacher's encouragement helped her to do well in school
  • The coach offered encouragement to the team before the finals

Examples of usage

  • He sought reassurance from his friends before the important presentation.
  • The doctor's reassurance helped calm her nerves before the surgery.
Context #2 | Noun

stating or making someone feel better about something

Reassurance can also refer to a statement or action that is meant to make someone feel better about a situation or decision. It is a way of offering comfort or consolation to alleviate worries or uncertainties.

Synonyms

comforting gesture, consolation, reassuring statement.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
reassurance

Used when providing a sense of safety or confidence through both actions and words.

  • His constant reassurance helped her get through the tough times
  • Sometimes, a simple reassurance can make all the difference
consolation

Used when someone is experiencing sadness or disappointment and requires comfort, often verbal. It often implies acknowledging someone's pain and offering words to ease it.

  • Her kind words were a great consolation after the bad news
  • The only consolation after losing the game was the support of our fans
reassuring statement

Used when specific words or phrases are intended to reduce anxiety or worry, focusing on communicating assurance verbally.

  • The nurse’s reassuring statement calmed the patient
  • He made a reassuring statement to ease her doubts
comforting gesture

Used when physical actions are taken to make someone feel better or less scared, such as a hug, pat on the back, or holding someone's hand.

  • He gave her a comforting gesture by placing his hand on her shoulder
  • That hug was the comforting gesture I needed

Examples of usage

  • She gave him reassurance that everything would be okay.
  • The positive feedback served as reassurance for her efforts.

Translations

Translations of the word "reassurance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reafirmação

🇮🇳 आश्वासन

🇩🇪 Beruhigung

🇮🇩 kepastian

🇺🇦 запевнення

🇵🇱 uspokojenie

🇯🇵 安心

🇫🇷 réassurance

🇪🇸 tranquilidad

🇹🇷 güvence

🇰🇷 안심

🇸🇦 طمأنة

🇨🇿 uklidnění

🇸🇰 upokojenie

🇨🇳 安慰

🇸🇮 zagotovilo

🇮🇸 hugrekki

🇰🇿 сенімділік

🇬🇪 დამშვიდება

🇦🇿 təminat

🇲🇽 tranquilidad

Etymology

The word 'reassurance' originated from the combination of 're-' meaning 'again' and 'assurance' meaning 'promise or pledge'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-17th century. The concept of providing reassurance has been a fundamental aspect of human interaction throughout history, as people have always sought to alleviate fears and uncertainties in themselves and others.

See also: assurance, assured, assuredly, assurer, reassure, reassured, reassuring.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,451, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.