Comforting describes something — a voice, a hug, a thought, even a cup of tea — that makes a worried, sad, or scared person feel a little safer and less alone. It is a warm word. A comforting friend sits with you; comforting news takes a weight off your chest. Though actually, people also talk about a comforting lie: a kind-sounding untruth told to spare your feelings. That use is a bit darker, and it is still real. Comforting is also just the -ing form of the verb comfort: she is comforting the child. The heart of it is easing hurt, not soft furniture.