# smother vs soothe

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### smother
*verb · IPA /ˈsməðər/ · frequency rank #35,085*
To suffocate; stifle; obstruct, more or less completely, the respiration of something or someone.

### soothe
*verb · IPA /suːð/ · frequency rank #23,109*
To restore to ease, comfort, or tranquility; relieve; calm; quiet; refresh.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/smother-vs-soothe