as in to soften
to lessen the shock of
a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cushion
Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
The design utilizes UltraPlush and leather cushions to make the headphones feel soft, yet durable.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 5 May 2026
Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The East African nation has yet to seek the emergency funding to help cushion its economy from the fallout of the Iran war, but could receive the cash within two weeks of making a request, the Treasury chief said in the capital, Nairobi on Wednesday.
—David Herbling, Bloomberg, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Noun
On board, JetBlue's Mint Suites feature direct aisle access, 17-inch television screens, wireless charging, and Tuft & Needle adaptive cushions that transform into a lie-flat bed.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
The design utilizes UltraPlush and leather cushions to make the headphones feel soft, yet durable.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 5 May 2026
Verb
Larger airlines have cushioned the blow somewhat by hiking some fees and fares and cutting flights.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The East African nation has yet to seek the emergency funding to help cushion its economy from the fallout of the Iran war, but could receive the cash within two weeks of making a request, the Treasury chief said in the capital, Nairobi on Wednesday.
—David Herbling, Bloomberg, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushion
Noun
-
But county documents also detail conditions the project should meet to address impacts, including designing buildings to dampen sound and adding landscape buffers.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
That storage has created a significant supply buffer.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The decision reflected a common pattern in China's technology sector, where startups establish offshore corporate structures to access global capital and reassure foreign investors, and sometimes soften regulatory scrutiny while maintaining engineering talent and intellectual ties to the mainland.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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This cult Japanese skincare-meets-makeup hybrid is an ultra-fine powder to even out skin tone, soften the look of pores, and reduce shine, leaving a translucent finish with subtle coverage.—
Anita Bhagwandas,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As its name suggests, CAS500-2 was supposed to be the second off the pad.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
Blue Origin, the American aerospace company founded in 2000 by billionaire tech entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, was the first private company to successfully land a reusable rocket on a landing pad.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Golov argued that a nuclear-only agreement would leave Iran free to rebuild a missile shield protecting a future nuclear breakout.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
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The all-gold logo, a feature in line with the president's taste as he's designed his signature properties and parts of the White House, also features a crest shield over the bird’s body with stars and stripes.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Another example is certain Volkswagen Beetles, where servicing the cooling system fan or air‑conditioning condenser requires removal of the bumper cover and both front fenders.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The front bumper meant nothing to the mower.—
Joe Salas
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cushion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushion. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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