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
Relevance
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
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 cushions
Pervaiz Shallwani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
If the set gets dirty after sitting through a storm, both seat cushions are machine-washable.
—Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
They’re ergonomically designed with high armrests for a better position and come with spot-cleanable cushions.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Visitors also discovered a Zen Room with agarwood scents, cushions and bell chimes, offering a tranquil pause before returning to the bustle of Paris.
—Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, at UMaine, administrators spent the spring and summer more or less searching the couch cushions for quarters to keep various research projects afloat.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
These lightweight headphones feature plush ear cushions and fold up compactly for runs, commutes, or whatever.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
The wicker sectional is complete with plush cushions and comes with a glass-top table.
—Julia Fields, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
The deepest layer, the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue, is mostly fat that cushions and insulates your body.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
This high level of contract coverage provides strong earnings visibility and cushions the company against short-term freight rate volatility.
—Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Osteoarthritis is a disease that comes about as the cartilage that cushions your joints gradually disappears.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
As a three-piece, the band cushions their latest creations with percussive highlights.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
Its gooey pecan filling sits under cushions of custard and whipped cream.
—Pervaiz Shallwani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025
If the set gets dirty after sitting through a storm, both seat cushions are machine-washable.
—Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
They’re ergonomically designed with high armrests for a better position and come with spot-cleanable cushions.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Visitors also discovered a Zen Room with agarwood scents, cushions and bell chimes, offering a tranquil pause before returning to the bustle of Paris.
—Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, at UMaine, administrators spent the spring and summer more or less searching the couch cushions for quarters to keep various research projects afloat.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
These lightweight headphones feature plush ear cushions and fold up compactly for runs, commutes, or whatever.
—PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
The wicker sectional is complete with plush cushions and comes with a glass-top table.
—Julia Fields, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
The deepest layer, the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue, is mostly fat that cushions and insulates your body.
—New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
If hosting partly in the living room, place cushions around the coffee table for easy dipping—or a game night following the food.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
This high level of contract coverage provides strong earnings visibility and cushions the company against short-term freight rate volatility.
—Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Osteoarthritis is a disease that comes about as the cartilage that cushions your joints gradually disappears.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
As a three-piece, the band cushions their latest creations with percussive highlights.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushions
Noun
-
Brinton said the firm is working with experts to map and appraise the land taken for the trail, as well as things like fencing or buffers landowners have had to install.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The floor buffers come out, whining like jet engines in the hallways, erasing over a month’s worth of shoe scuffs that made the place look like the dasher boards at the hockey rink.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Khusnutdinov took a pass from Pastrnak but wasted no time in sending it right back to Pastrnak, who beat Vanecek between the pads.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Fewer changes at the college level The NCAA, for example, still allows a relatively high number of live contact practices—those in which players wear full pads and practice tackling and blocking—according to its Division I manual.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The car is not the Camaro in most other respects, too, with the interior getting a bespoke redesign, the body panels changed, the bumpers changed, the front grille reworked, and the headlights and tail lights updated, too.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Zam Studios’ additional credits include the Smiling Friends shorts, Smiling Symphonies, Billy Idol Should Be Dead documentary, and bumpers for Rick & Morty and Adult Swim.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Just three days in and these XL-sized shields are thick as thieves, which doesn’t seem threatening to anyone whose name isn’t Annie.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields platforms from liability for what users post, leaving victims and their families with limited legal footing against them.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the old flivver was ticking along, reminding Drew of happy hours—leaning on opposing fenders under its hood with Lloyd, contemplating the Dart’s latest ailment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The new trim is based on the stock CB350, but differs with a unique visual motif with vintage designs on the fuel tank, side panels, and fenders.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These scaffolds are erected on skyscrapers, hundreds of feet high, and encased in fabric safety nets forming colorful cocoons of green, blue and purple.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Systematically go through every container in the pantry, looking for signs of larvae, cocoons, or beetles.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cushions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushions. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share