1
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to alleviate
to lessen the shock of
had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soften
Distant Lands approaches such feelings sidelong, as if acting casual will soften grief’s blow.
—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
23 June 2026
The highest pump prices in the country have been a pain point for Newsom, who is expected to make a bid for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination and has softened his once-hostile approach to the state’s dwindling fuel-making industry.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
National polling on the administration’s immigration policies tends to follow party lines, drawing Democrats’ disapproval and Republicans’ support, but recent polling suggests some softening among the latter.
—
Lisa Meierotto,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
23 June 2026
The highest pump prices in the country have been a pain point for Newsom, who is expected to make a bid for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination and has softened his once-hostile approach to the state’s dwindling fuel-making industry.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
National polling on the administration’s immigration policies tends to follow party lines, drawing Democrats’ disapproval and Republicans’ support, but recent polling suggests some softening among the latter.
—
Lisa Meierotto,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill on June 23 seeking to alleviate a growing housing crisis by streamlining construction regulations, encouraging local innovation, and limiting investor purchases of homes, among other steps.
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According to the European Commission, the duty-free de minimis exemption was introduced in order to alleviate administrative burdens for customs authorities and businesses, but the digitalization of customs procedures has ameliorated that issue.
Verb
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And this time—unlike the first year of the Chávez administration, when some Venezuelans still saw the new president as a source of hope — neither oil revenues nor all the international aid combined will be enough to mitigate the effects of the most powerful earthquake in a century.
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The process is meant to mitigate the chance of any sensitive instruments being damaged, Katalyst said in a press release.
Verb
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While most fans and pundits view Brazil as the clear favorite in Friday’s game against Haiti, the team’s coach and one of its star players sought to temper those expectations.
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Borrowers hoping for immediate relief from high credit card rates may want to temper their expectations.
Verb
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Each Instant Mani set includes 42 press-on nails, 21 different sizes, nail glue, a prep pad, a wooden cuticle stick, a dual-sided file and buffer and application instructions.
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Sets run around $10 and include 42 nails across 21 sizes, plus glue, a prep pad, a wooden cuticle stick, a dual-sided file and buffer and application instructions.
Verb
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Tempur-Pedic’s reputation as a luxury mattress brand with exceptional performance can be attributed to its roots—the cushioning material was originally developed for NASA’s pilot test expeditions.
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It’s made of 100 percent memory foam to cushion your head and neck for a cozy rest.
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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