soften

1 of 2

verb

soft·​en ˈsȯ-fən 

softened; softening ˈsȯ-fə-niŋ 

ˈsȯf-niŋ

transitive verb

1

: to make soft or softer

2

a

: to weaken the military resistance or the morale of especially by harassment (such as preliminary bombardment)

—often used with up

b

: to impair the strength or resistance of

—often used with up

soften up a sales prospect

intransitive verb

: to become soft or softer

her face softened

softener

ˈsȯ-fə-nər 

ˈsȯf-nər

noun

softener

2 of 2

noun

soft·​en·​er -(ə)nə(r) 

plural -s

: one that softens: such as

a

: a worker who softens hides, skins, or leather usually by immersing or tumbling them in water

b

: a textile worker who waxes thread and yarn

c

: a machine or apparatus in which something is softened

d

: a substance added to something (such as hard water, molten iron, or rubber in the process of manufacture) to make it soft, malleable, or plastic compare plasticizer

Synonyms of soften

Verb

• weaken

Examples of soften in a Sentence

Verb

The butter will soften if left on the counter overnight.

The recipe called for one stick of butter, softened.

The oil is used to soften and preserve the leather.

The lotion softens dry skin.

The company has softened its stance on dating in the workplace.

Her face softened when he entered the room.

His criticism of the president has softened in the past year.

The grass softened my fall.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026

Lead times for the iPhone 18 Pro have softened in several markets compared with the prior cycle, while the more expensive Pro Max has held up better, according to JPMorgan's tracking. — Mackenzie Sigalos,kif Leswing, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026

The Dachshund is currently the sixth most popular breed per the American Kennel Club, and demand for Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus and other small breeds is unlikely to soften. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026

The anthem video features Zankov speaking about tactile and nostalgic references, such as leather softened by a long journey and the feeling of cashmere on the skin, that inspired the collection. — David Moin, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing soften

• cushion/soften the blow
• soften up

Rhymes for soften

• boffin
• coffin
• offen
• often

Kids Definition

soften

verb

soft·​en ˈsȯ-fən 

softened; softening ˈsȯf-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to make or become soft or softer

2

: to lessen the strength of

softener

ˈsȯf-(ə-)nər 

noun