consolation
/ˌkɒn.səˈleɪ.ʃən/noun
Comfort for someone who is sad or disappointed, or something that gives that comfort.
Example sentences
- “Her friends' messages were a great consolation after the funeral.”
- “If it's any consolation, the test was hard for everyone.”
- “The only consolation was that nobody got hurt.”
'If it's any consolation' is a common way to soften bad news. A 'consolation prize' goes to someone who did not win.