consolations
Words easing grief
Consolations are things that provide comfort during disappointment or grief—the silver linings, the compensating factors, the sources of solace.
When something goes wrong, you look for consolations: The team lost, but the consolation was that everyone played well.
A consolation prize goes to losers as a token gesture.
Small consolations often aren't enough: It was cold consolation to know others had it worse.
Relief from distress
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- reliefEasing of distress
- balmHealing topical preparation
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
succor · ease · alleviation · respite · peace · serenity · tranquility · calmness
Compassionate understanding of others
- bereavementState following loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- lossBeing without something
funeral · memorial · tribute · remembrance · eulogy · wake · obituary · commiseration
Raise emotionally or physically
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
inspiration · empowerment · boost · morale · praise · exhortation · support · cheering
Prayer seeking divine favor
- prayerAddress to deity
- faithTrust without proof
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
salvation · absolution · scripture · meditation · devotion · psalm · hymn · sermon
solace
Relief from distress
reassurance · succor · ease · alleviation · respite · peace · serenity · tranquility · calmness · quietude
sympathy
Compassionate understanding of others
- bereavementState following loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
loss · funeral · memorial · tribute · remembrance · eulogy · wake · obituary · commiseration · lamentation
uplift
Raise emotionally or physically
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
motivation · inspiration · empowerment · boost · morale · praise · exhortation · support · cheering · heartening
blessing
Prayer seeking divine favor
redemption · salvation · absolution · scripture · meditation · devotion · psalm · hymn · sermon · providence
- Byzantine textshagiographies, hagiography, homilies, histories, historiography
- Latin proseCicero, Seneca, Tacitus, Livy, Caesar
- Roman PhilosophySeneca, epistles, Marcus Aurelius, Cato, political philosophy
- ancient philosophyPlato, Aristotle, Socrates, Platonism, Epicureanism
- Late LatinAugustine, Jerome, Ambrose, Confessions, Saturnalia
- Latin PoetryAeneid, Metamorphoses, Virgil, Ovid, Horace
consolationsafflictions
Sources of suffering
torments · agonies · miseries · distresses · griefs
consolationsinsults
Disparaging remarks
salt in the wound · reproaches · rebukes · cold comfort · condemnations
- consolation prizeAward for losing participants
- consolation goalLosing team's lone tally
- consolation roundContest for non-winners
- consolation gameCompetition for non-finalists
- consolation bracketCompetition for eliminated contestants