softened; softening
ˈsȯ-fə-niŋ 
ˈsȯf-niŋ
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
: to become soft or softer
her face softened
Examples of soften in a Sentence
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
Take deep breaths throughout the day to soften your pelvic floor muscles.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 June 2025
But after the strikes, Kirk appeared to soften, reposting a clip of Vice President JD Vance praising the pilots involved.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 minutes.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
The Chinese market represented 4 percent, but led losses, falling 17 percent as consumer spending continues to soften in the world’s second-most populous nation.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 June 2025
But after the strikes, Kirk appeared to soften, reposting a clip of Vice President JD Vance praising the pilots involved.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 minutes.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
The Chinese market represented 4 percent, but led losses, falling 17 percent as consumer spending continues to soften in the world’s second-most populous nation.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soften. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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