1
: a balsamic (see balsamic sense 1) resin
especially
: one from small tropical evergreen trees (genus Commiphora of the family Burseraceae)
2
: an aromatic preparation (such as a healing ointment)
applied a balm to the wound
3
4
: a spicy aromatic odor
… the white lilies in the garden, the herb bed near the bees—everything sent out fragrance and balm into the soft air …—
Agnes S. Turnbull
Agnes S. Turnbull5
: a soothing restorative agency
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.—Jane Austen
Jane AustenSynonyms
Examples of balm in a Sentence
Art can be a balm to the soul.
She shows that laughter is a balm for difficult times.
Recent Examples on the Web
Testers say this product feels and acts more like a balm that melts into skin, rather than a stiff or tacky sunscreen.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 2 July 2024
For many others, the wait for lower rates continues without the balm of intermediate success.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
Our love had always been a balm for the ways we’d been forced to shrink over the years.
—Lane Scott Jones, Longreads, 25 June 2024
The front section is slightly smaller for items like headphones, keys, and lip balm, while the back compartment is larger to fit cell phones, wallets, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous items.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for balm 
Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 2 July 2024
For many others, the wait for lower rates continues without the balm of intermediate success.
—Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
Our love had always been a balm for the ways we’d been forced to shrink over the years.
—Lane Scott Jones, Longreads, 25 June 2024
The front section is slightly smaller for items like headphones, keys, and lip balm, while the back compartment is larger to fit cell phones, wallets, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous items.
—Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 22 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for balm
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'balm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Balm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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