soften up

verb

softened up; softening up; softens up

1

: to treat (someone) very well or kindly in order to make that person more likely to help one, give one something, etc.

He tried to soften her up by buying her flowers.

2

: to weaken (an enemy) through military attacks

They used artillery to soften up the enemy's defenses before launching a full-scale attack.

Examples of soften up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flowers soften up the hard edges of vintage pieces and add energy, whimsy, and texture, while the heirloom pieces add history and character. — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2026

Still, as a Libra, Erin is willing to soften up to those who have proven their loyalty and sincerity to her. — Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

Plop it onto wicker and rattan seating to soften up their edges a little. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 26 Mar. 2026

Thrusting a baby into Offerman’s burly arms works wonders to soften up Jinx (as does the actor’s vulnerable turn), and Kenny’s arc proves surprising in the right ways (save, perhaps, one late-arriving twist). — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for soften up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup