salving
Treating with balm
Salving is applying salve—soothing ointment—to a wound or irritation.
The word extends to anything that soothes emotional hurt: salving a guilty conscience, salving wounded pride.
The related verb salvage, meaning to rescue property from loss, sometimes appears as salve in nautical contexts, though this usage is rare.
Inducing a settled state
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- easingReducing strain or difficulty
- relievingReducing discomfort or strain
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
gentle · cooling · softening · alleviating · assuaging · mollifying · placating · consoling
Medicated skin cream
- emollientSubstance that softens skin
- unguentMedicinal ointment for skin
- linimentMedicated rub for soreness
- creamRich milk fat
lotion · pomade · balm · moisturizer · poultice · compress · dressing · paste
Treatment of bodily injuries
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- bandageWound covering strip
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- remedyCurative treatment or fix
medicine · recovery · infection · inflammation · abrasion · burn · chapping · irritation
Giving solace to another
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- healingRestoration of health
- mendingRestoring damaged items
- reconcilingResolving a dispute
apologizing · making amends · atoning · smoothing over · reassuring · unburdening · forgiving · absolving
calming
Inducing a settled state
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- easingReducing strain or difficulty
- relievingReducing discomfort or strain
palliative · gentle · cooling · softening · alleviating · assuaging · mollifying · placating · consoling · reassuring
ointment
Medicated skin cream
- emollientSubstance that softens skin
- unguentMedicinal ointment for skin
- linimentMedicated rub for soreness
cream · lotion · pomade · balm · moisturizer · poultice · compress · dressing · paste · gel
wound care
Treatment of bodily injuries
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- bandageWound covering strip
- treatmentCare for an ailment
remedy · medicine · recovery · infection · inflammation · abrasion · burn · chapping · irritation · lesion
consoling
Giving solace to another
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
- healingRestoration of health
- mendingRestoring damaged items
reconciling · apologizing · making amends · atoning · smoothing over · reassuring · unburdening · forgiving · absolving
salvingwounding
Causing physical injury
injuring · harming · irritating · aggravating · inflaming
salvingagitating
Disturbing or stirring up
distressing · tormenting · troubling · upsetting · aggravating
save, saving, saved, savior, salve, saves, salvation, saver, savers