balm

noun

ˈbä(l)m How to pronounce balm (audio)
Definition of balmnext
as in scent
a sweet or pleasant smell the balm of the restaurant's backyard garden enhances the aura of romance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of balm During the day, the balm layers easily over or under lipstick. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026 A day balm is meant to melt into the skin to soften fine lines and add a healthy glow under makeup. — Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 In a room full of fascists and fools, Ahmed’s projection of competence—and of the spluttering exasperation that is the lot of the competent—proves a genuine balm. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 Shopping, usually a soothing balm for me, got somewhat frustrating. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balm
  1. scent
  2. fragrance
  3. aroma
  4. perfume
Noun
  • Tyler placed it between us with an elegant flourish; the steam carried the scent of glorious-secret spices.
    — Larry Padgett, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The second-place winner was fragrance house French Cowboy, which was founded in 2025 by Ashley Santiago and Adrien Ollat, and collaborates with different creatives on the scents.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of scent
Noun
  • Both are meant to be used just before serving to keep the fragrance intact.
    — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of fragrance
Noun
  • The sweet, woody scent of Georgia pines blended with the wafting aroma of sizzling hot dogs and hamburgers.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For nearly two decades, Pena and his wife have run a Dominican restaurant in Allentown, where the aroma of crispy pastelillos and savory rice fills the dining room.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of aroma
Noun
  • This collects about 8,000 original documents and other elements linked to the house’s perfume and beauty archives, totaling about 5 percent of its full collection.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Each botanical is distilled separately before being blended together, a production technique that master distiller Steve Wilson has said was inspired by perfume (the design of the bottle follows suit).
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of perfume

Browse Nearby Words

ballyhoos
balm
balminess
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balm. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on balm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balm

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