What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reassure
Example
I reassured my friend that everything would be okay. [reassured: past tense]
Example
The doctor reassured the patient that the surgery would be successful. [reassured: verb]
calm
Example
She took deep breaths to calm herself down. [calm: verb]
Example
The sound of the ocean waves helped to calm her nerves. [calm: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Calm is more commonly used than reassure in everyday language. Calm is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reassure is less common and often used in specific situations where confidence or assurance is needed.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reassure and calm?
Both reassure and calm can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, reassure may be more formal due to its association with providing evidence or assurance.