as in softening
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in buffering
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cushioning
Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
The water-resistant kicks are made from recycled bottles, contain anti-microbial and anti-odor properties in the insole, and have the brand’s signature anatomical cushioning and arch support for superior comfort.
—Lauren Finney Harden, InStyle, 2 June 2026
Eva Thomas, InStyle, 21 May 2026
But so far, the AI boom is cushioning any investor caution, with stocks continuing to rally.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cushioning
Noun
The cushioning will keep your cookware in great condition and encourage you to keep your kitchen storage organized.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 3 June 2026
The water-resistant kicks are made from recycled bottles, contain anti-microbial and anti-odor properties in the insole, and have the brand’s signature anatomical cushioning and arch support for superior comfort.
—Lauren Finney Harden, InStyle, 2 June 2026
Verb
Spend a bit of time on your summer shoe purchase; look for details like cushioning and arch support, and even better if the style has an APMA seal.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 21 May 2026
But so far, the AI boom is cushioning any investor caution, with stocks continuing to rally.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cushioning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushioning
Noun
-
Most siblings have natural buffers.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
13 June 2026
-
Latency is generally the result of the many waypoints video data goes through between field and screen, as well as the fact that streamers build in a bit of buffer time to prevent feeds from constantly stopping and starting when internet connections falter.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, emollient vitamin E and softening jojoba seed oil condition your natural nails, leaving them (and the skin around them) feeling softer and more hydrated.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Barrier cream launches this time of year are plentiful, but there’s one that’s really worth your attention: Bubble’s Soft Swerve Barrier Restore Balm, an intensely emollient moisturizer that coats your skin in a nourishing formula that rewards you with a soft, supple complexion over night.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To descend the stairs into Marcel, the new French-continental restaurant on the lower level of the Breuer building, on Madison Avenue, is to watch a brutalist masterpiece surrender, with a kind of gracious compliance, to the softening influence of a great deal of money.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
Combined with higher interest rates on pause (and the potential for them to be hiked higher later this year), softening wages and household debt at a record high, this week's news underscores the importance of storing your money in safe and profitable places.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
And part of it is Congress' already historically slim voting margins – margins, by the way, that won't be getting any more cushion amid the gerrymandering wars.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
One of her Today colleagues even stitched the phrase onto a cushion for her.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Family remembers Nazir Bell Bell's family described him as a bright and compassionate young man with a promising future.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
-
Plenty of evangelical pastors, writers, and advocates have called for and modelled a more compassionate and inclusive faith.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
The graying wrap their knees in thick white pads, still chasing Saturday-morning glory at 70.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
-
The two partnered for hypersonic missile tests from the pad in the last two years, but the pad has also hosted commercial launch providers, including a pair of Astra Space launches, under a lease agreement with Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Officials cited the heat shield concerns as part of the need to add additional testing in space to the Artemis timeline.—
Margaret Landis,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
-
Pro-Kremlin newspapers reported it, with some praising the performance of air defenses while noting that the strike highlighted the need to further strengthen the defensive shield around the capital.—
Barry Hatton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
From headlight housings and door trim to bumpers and exhaust tips, the polish doesn’t just work on chrome but also steel, copper, aluminum and brass.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
-
Photos posted online showed a masked agent sitting on the ground against a vehicle bumper before being placed on a stretcher.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cushioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushioning. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
