George A. Parks
Did you know?
Aromatic ointments and fragrances are the bomb. They are also, literally, balms: healing substances and soothing scents with the power to ease both mind and body. The original balm, what Latin-speakers referred to as balsamum, was the oleoresin of a species of balsam tree. In Anglo-French, balsamum became basme and baume, spellings which entered Middle English and later became balm. Balm eventually begat the adjective balmy, used to describe things with a balm’s comforting, calming qualities, as when Shakespeare’s Othello speaks of “balmy slumbers.” Today balmy is typically used to describe the weather—balmy breezes, balmy temperatures, balmy spring afternoons, et al—conditions that are neither too hot nor too cold, but just right—Goldilocks conditions, even.
Examples of balmy in a Sentence
Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2025
Best Time to Visit The best time to visit Anegada is between December and April when clear skies and slightly balmier temps make this the island escape of your Caribbean dreams.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2025
It’s been particularly helpful during the itinerant springtime weather, which switches from warm and balmy to cold and dry at a moment’s notice.
—Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2025
Spirits were high as guests walked the green carpet and were happy to be in balmy New Orleans.
—Michaela Bechler, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balmy
Cite this Entry
“Balmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balmy. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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