as in buffers
something that serves as a protective barrier
used a blanket as a cushion between the two tables in the moving van
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in softens
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 cushions
Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Second, the Fed’s also lowering the cash cushions that banks must park at the central bank as reserves.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Items like outdoor cushions, pillows, and rugs also aren’t safe for winter weather.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
The company highlights everyday scenarios such as locating keys stuck between couch cushions or finding a wallet before leaving home.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
A couple of exterior closets around the backside are for storing pool toys and patio furniture cushions.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Using pillows for sidelines and couch cushions as defenders, the future wide receiver took on every position of the sport in his one-man games.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Unlike traditional sofas, where elements like frames and cushions can be repaired, fixing foam isn’t a simple task.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
The facility had two unapproved chairs with cloth cushions inside the food preparation area.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated January 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
This structure cushions physical contact and detects impact forces in real time, improving safety during close human–robot interaction.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
These are lined with cozy fleece and have a memory foam insole that cushions each step and contours to your foot shape for customized support.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage—the smooth tissue that cushions the ends of bones.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
It’s made with a flexible and plush EVA midsole that cushions every step and absorbs shock keeping foot pain away.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025
The Litfun slippers are constructed with a thick memory foam footbed that gently cushions and supports your feet with each step, while the faux fur lining offers plenty of warmth for chilly days.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down over time.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Her nursery is luxurious with cushions and toys, soft rugs and sofas.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Second, the Fed’s also lowering the cash cushions that banks must park at the central bank as reserves.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Items like outdoor cushions, pillows, and rugs also aren’t safe for winter weather.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
The company highlights everyday scenarios such as locating keys stuck between couch cushions or finding a wallet before leaving home.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
A couple of exterior closets around the backside are for storing pool toys and patio furniture cushions.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
Using pillows for sidelines and couch cushions as defenders, the future wide receiver took on every position of the sport in his one-man games.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Unlike traditional sofas, where elements like frames and cushions can be repaired, fixing foam isn’t a simple task.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2026
The facility had two unapproved chairs with cloth cushions inside the food preparation area.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated January 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
In a healthy economy, the middle and working classes provide a floor of stable demand that cushions this volatility.
—Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
This structure cushions physical contact and detects impact forces in real time, improving safety during close human–robot interaction.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
In the example below, Matty Cash is pressed and goes long to Rogers, who, surrounded by three Tottenham players, deftly cushions the ball on his chest before flicking it back to John McGinn.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
These are lined with cozy fleece and have a memory foam insole that cushions each step and contours to your foot shape for customized support.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of cartilage—the smooth tissue that cushions the ends of bones.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
It’s made with a flexible and plush EVA midsole that cushions every step and absorbs shock keeping foot pain away.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025
The Litfun slippers are constructed with a thick memory foam footbed that gently cushions and supports your feet with each step, while the faux fur lining offers plenty of warmth for chilly days.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down over time.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushions
Noun
-
This is because perspective-taking buffers escalation.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
While the top 20% spends paper gains, the bottom 80% is currently financing groceries with shadow debt, having fully depleted their pandemic-era savings buffers.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The formula includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, giving it a soothing, balm-like feel that softens lips overnight.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The suppleness of the band softens Williams’ tales of despair, transforming them into songs of solace, not outrage.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Not to mention, its cooling under-eye pads feel incredible in the morning.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
-
On Friday, the zoo began moving several of its animals into protected areas of the Kendall-area attraction and kept warm with extra bedding hay, along with external heating sources like heat lamps, radiant heaters and heated floor pads.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The anodized exterior trim bits return for a bit of visual interest, and Subaru also redesigned the Wilderness’ front and rear bumpers.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Some options focus on the dog’s environment, such as adding padding or corner bumpers to sharp furniture edges and other hard surfaces a tail might repeatedly hit.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those shields include Section 230 and free speech defenses tied to user content.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The dearth of trees on the island implied to some that the inhabitants had cut them down to make clubs and shields.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The rear fenders feature some curves, which might be the most similar aspect of this prototype compared to today’s Bentayga.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The view from behind the wheel is impressive, where the driver sees finger-thin A-pillars at either side of the broad windshield that overlooks two iconic fenders, a comically short dash, five true analog gauges, and little else.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Such cocoons would trap most of the radiation generated near black holes.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Space.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
But for the LRDs, that ultraviolet light would filter through their cocoons, trickling out as visible light and creating the characteristic red hue.—
Lee Billings,
Scientific American,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cushions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushions. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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