lenitive
Gently calming discomfort
Lenitive means soothing or relieving pain, especially in medical contexts: a lenitive ointment, lenitive care for terminal patients.
As a noun, a lenitive is something that soothes or mitigates—a balm or remedy.
The word is formal and somewhat archaic, more likely encountered in older medical texts than contemporary speech.
Reducing distress or discomfort
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- demulcentSubstance that soothes inflammation
- emollientSubstance that softens skin
- balmHealing topical preparation
salve · anodyne · analgesic · therapeutic · remedial · alleviating · relieving · comforting
Lessen pain or trouble
mollify · palliate · temper · moderate · abate · lessen · diminish · soften
Moderate in intensity
- softYielding to touch
- tenderSoft or sore
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
calming · balmy · silky · velvety · smooth · light · featherlike · caressing
Mild bowel-loosening agent
- catharticEmotionally releasing, relieving
- purgativeSubstance inducing evacuation
- evacuantAgent causing evacuation
- stool softenerMedication easing bowel movements
senna · psyllium · lactulose · castor oil · magnesium hydroxide · polyethylene glycol
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- demulcentSubstance that soothes inflammation
- emollientSubstance that softens skin
balm · salve · anodyne · analgesic · therapeutic · remedial · alleviating · relieving · comforting · numbing
alleviate
Lessen pain or trouble
ease · mollify · palliate · temper · moderate · abate · lessen · diminish · soften · lighten
mild
Moderate in intensity
soothing · calming · balmy · silky · velvety · smooth · light · featherlike · caressing · supple
aperient
Mild bowel-loosening agent
- catharticEmotionally releasing, relieving
- purgativeSubstance inducing evacuation
- evacuantAgent causing evacuation
stool softener · senna · psyllium · lactulose · castor oil · magnesium hydroxide · polyethylene glycol
lenitiveirritant
Source of vexation
irritating · aggravating · exacerbating · chafing · abrasive
lenitiveintensifying
Increasing in strength
agitating · exacerbating · aggravating · inflaming · provocative