reassuring smile

USAGE SUMMARY

"reassuring smile" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to convey comfort or reassurance. For example: She gave me a reassuring smile when I told her I was worried about the results of the exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

The driver gave us a reassuring smile.

The New York Times - Travel

She gave us a reassuring smile.

The New Yorker

A preschooler waits for his mother's reassuring smile before joining other children on the jungle gym.

University of California, Berkeley

She sits him down on the platform with a reassuring smile – and then abandons him.

Independent

Every so often he looked up and shared a radiant, even reassuring smile.

The New York Times

She looked at me with suspicion and I tried my best at a calm, reassuring smile.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

You will not see him offering reassuring smiles or laughing dismissively when a call does not go his way.

The New York Times

Incredulous stares and unrequited reassuring smiles, followed by calls of "You are so inspiring!" or "Come on, you can do it!" plagued me.

The New York Times

Wiig's character is every middle manager who clings to her authority by association; she shows her boss small reassuring smiles while revealing subterranean loathing toward the young woman with the promotion.

The New York Times - Magazine

2. I miss her reassuring smiles, her warm, comforting embraces, her unparalleled compassion for anyone fortunate enough to look into her soulful, doe-shaped eyes.

Huffington Post

There are only a certain amount of reassuring smiles you can give a lifeguard before he just forces you to get out because you're making his job really stressful.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reassuring smile" to depict a non-verbal cue that provides comfort, support, or reduces anxiety in a character or situation. This can be effective in building trust or easing tension within a narrative.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "reassuring smile" to convey comfort. Instead, vary your descriptions by incorporating other sensory details like tone of voice, body language, or environmental cues to create a more immersive and nuanced experience for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reassuring smile" functions as an adjective-noun phrase, where "reassuring" modifies the noun "smile". It is used to describe the quality of the smile, indicating its ability to provide comfort and reduce anxiety. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reassuring smile" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a smile that offers comfort and reduces anxiety. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts from news and media to academic writing. When crafting your own writing, remember to use it to communicate support and safety, but also consider variations to prevent overuse and maintain reader engagement. The Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both correct and useful in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comforting smile

Replaces "reassuring" with "comforting", emphasizing the feeling of ease provided.

supportive smile

Substitutes "reassuring" with "supportive", highlighting the encouraging aspect of the smile.

calming smile

Uses "calming" instead of "reassuring", focusing on the smile's ability to reduce anxiety.

encouraging smile

Replaces "reassuring" with "encouraging", stressing the smile's motivational quality.

warm smile

Focuses on the emotional aspect of the smile, suggesting friendliness and sincerity.

gentle smile

Emphasizes the softness and kindness conveyed by the smile.

kind smile

Highlights the benevolence and goodwill expressed through the smile.

sympathetic smile

Indicates understanding and compassion through the smile.

pleasant smile

Focuses on the agreeable and pleasing nature of the smile.

confident smile

Suggests that the smile is given to inspire trust, replacing reassurance with confidence.

FAQs

How can I use "reassuring smile" in a sentence?

You can use "reassuring smile" to describe someone's expression, for example: "She gave a "reassuring smile" when I told her my worries."

What are some alternatives to "reassuring smile"?

Some alternatives include "comforting smile", "calming smile", or "supportive smile", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "reassuring smile" or "reassured smile"?

"Reassuring smile" is correct; it describes a smile that provides reassurance. "Reassured smile" would imply the smile itself feels reassured, which doesn't make sense in most contexts. It is also not idiomatic.

What does a "reassuring smile" typically communicate?

A "reassuring smile" generally communicates comfort, support, and a reduction of anxiety or fear. It suggests that everything will be alright and inspires confidence in the recipient.