sweeten

verb

sweet·​en ˈswē-tᵊn 

sweetened; sweetening ˈswē-tᵊn-iŋ 

ˈswēt-niŋ

transitive verb

1

: to make sweet

2

: to soften the mood or attitude of

3

: to make less painful or trying

4

: to free from a harmful or undesirable quality or substance

especially : to remove sulfur compounds from

sweeten natural gas

5

: to make more valuable or attractive

sweeten the deal

: such as

a

: to increase (a pot not won on the previous deal) by anteing prior to another deal

b

: to place additional securities as collateral for (a loan)

intransitive verb

: to become sweet

sweetener

ˈswēt-nər, 

ˈswē-tᵊn-ər 

noun

Synonyms of sweeten

• candy
• enhance
• improve
• spruce

Examples of sweeten in a Sentence

He sweetened his cereal a little.

He sweetened the deal with a large signing bonus.

Recent Examples on the Web

Krispy Kreme has free 'SOS' doughnuts Leave it to Krispy Kreme to sweeten a situation. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026

But foods sweetened with natural sweeteners—like honey, maple syrup, and fruit—are taking over in 2026 as consumers look for natural sources of sweetness. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026

Sprinkling cinnamon on a tablespoon or a splash of vanilla to your peanut butter shake can also help sweeten the flavor profile without adding extra sugars. —Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 13 Jan. 2026

Kombucha is a fermented tea that is typically carbonated and lightly sweetened. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 12 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sweeten

• pre-sweeten
• sugar/sweeten the pill
• sweeten up

Rhymes for sweeten

• beaten
• cretin
• eaten
• teton
• wheaten
• phenacetin
• sisseton
• unbeaten
• uneaten
• wahpeton

Kids Definition

sweeten

verb

sweet·​en ˈswēt-ᵊn 

sweetened; sweetening ˈswēt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become sweet

sweetener

ˈswēt-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun