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Comfort vs Encouragement - What's the difference?

comfort | encouragement |

As nouns the difference between comfort and encouragement

is that comfort is contentment, ease while encouragement is the act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity.

As a verb comfort

is to relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.

comfort

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Contentment, ease.
    • Sleep in comfort with our new mattress.
  • Something that offers comfort.
    • the comforts of home
  • A consolation; something relieving suffering or worry.
    • We still have the spare tire? That's a comfort at least.
  • A cause of relief or satisfaction.
    • The outcome of the peace negotiations in Moscow in 1940 was a heavy blow to the young nation, but in the same time a great comfort : at least the independency was preserved.

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * austerity

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To relieve the distress or suffering of; to provide comfort to.
    • Rob comforted Aaron because he was lost and very sad.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men.
  • To make comfortable. (rfex)
  • (obsolete) To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate.
    • (Wyclif)
  • * Hooker
    • God's own testimony doth not a little comfort and confirm the same.
  • (obsolete) To assist or help; to aid.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I cannot help the noble chevalier: / God comfort him in this necessity!

    Synonyms

    * besoothe

    Derived terms

    * cold comfort * comfort woman * comfortable * comforter * comforting * discomfort * letter of comfort ----

    encouragement

    English

    Alternative forms

    * incouragement (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as, the encouragement of youth in generosity.
    • All generous encouragement of arts. -Otway.
  • That which serves to incite, support, promote or advance, as favor, countenance, reward etc.; incentive; increase of confidence; as, the fine arts find little encouragement among a rude people.
    • To think of his paternal care, Is a most sweet encouragement to prayer. -Byron.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    References

    (Webster 1913) ----