consolation

Comfort that makes someone feel less sad after a loss or disappointment.

• Her kind words offered some consolation.
• He found consolation in spending time with his family.
• Knowing we tried our best was little consolation.

How to use it: consolation in something (She found consolation in her friends' kindness.); a consolation to someone (His letters were a consolation to her.)

Similar words: comfort, solace

Common phrases: find consolation, little consolation, offer consolation

A smaller prize or benefit given to someone who has lost or missed the main reward.

• I won a consolation prize.
• Free tickets were a small consolation for missing the main award.
• Each losing team received a consolation prize.

Similar words: consolation prize

Common phrases: consolation prize, small consolation, receive a consolation

A goal scored by a team that is still very likely to lose the match.

• They scored a late consolation.
• Her consolation goal made the final score four to one.
• The striker's consolation did little to lift the team's spirits.

Similar words: consolation goal

Common phrases: late consolation, consolation goal, score a consolation