comfort、console、ease、soothe与relieve这些动词均含有“给人以帮助以减轻痛苦或悲伤”之意。
comfort : 普通用词，指用语言或行动对痛苦者给予鼓励、勇气和力量，从而减轻其痛苦或悲伤，得到安慰。
- The girl's mother was at home today, being comforted by relatives.
女孩的母亲今天在家，有亲戚在安慰她。 - The victim's widow was today being comforted by family and friends.
受害人的遗孀今天正受到亲属和朋友的安慰。 - She comforted herself with the thought that it would soon be spring.
她想到春天很快就要来临，以此来宽慰自己。
console : 较正式用词，侧重缓和或减轻别人的痛苦或悲伤。
- He tried to console her, but she kept saying it was all her own fault.
他尽力安慰她，可是她不停地说那都是她自己的错。 - I tried to console her with a box of chocolates.
我竭力想用一盒巧克力来抚慰她。 - I was consoling Liz on having broken up with her boyfriend.
莉兹跟男友分手了，我在安慰她。
ease : 正式用词，指减轻身心的痛苦、不安和忧虑。
- To ease the problem of overcrowding, new prisons will be built.
为了缓解监狱里人满为患的情况，将修建新的监狱。 - These pills should ease the pain.
这些药丸能缓解疼痛。 - After the arrival of the United Nations soldiers, tension in the area began to ease.
联合国维和士兵到达后，这个地区的紧张局势开始得到缓解。
soothe : 着重以安慰减轻悲痛、愤怒或激动，使人理智地平静下来。也可指药物等减轻病痛。
- 那个脾气暴躁的老妇人搂着一个哭闹的小孩，让其安静了下来。
The grumpy old woman cuddled and soothed a crying baby. - 这刺耳的音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿，却使我头脑发晕。
The strident music soothed her for a while, but made my head swirl.
（拓展学习：小词详解 | soothe）
relieve : 指解除或缓解某人的病痛、担心或忧虑等，常用被动态。
- She was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain.
医生给她注射了一针吗啡来止痛。 - She relieved her boredom at home by learning how to type.
她在家学打字来打发无聊的时光。
