1
as in facilitated
to free from obstruction or difficulty
a willingness to compromise will smooth the way to an early agreement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flattened
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps
the workers smoothed the surface of the concrete before letting it dry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rubbed
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
used fine sandpaper to smooth the face of the wood
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 smoothed
The beach was filled with stones that had been smoothed to perfect ovals and circles by thousands of years of being tossed by the sea, some gray and striated with pure white, and others that when wet were the color of emeralds.
—
Nicole Krauss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Over the years, the late Queen had repeatedly smoothed Andrew’s way in life.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
In some ways, Bequia remains a secret, and as such, it hasn’t been overly developed, commercialised or smoothed into sameness.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
Parish and Glasner smoothed things over somewhat at dinner at London’s Ham Yard restaurant on January 21.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Robinson’s death, before the legend was smoothed, even needed some rehabilitating from the Black Panthers, who eulogize him tellingly, as a product of his time.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
In subsequent phases, the ICRC smoothed returns of the deceased, including 27 of 28 hostages and 360 Palestinians.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Her strands were smoothed close to the scalp with a soft curve at the ends, creating effortless movement and shine.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
Nicole Krauss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Over the years, the late Queen had repeatedly smoothed Andrew’s way in life.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026
Chocolate Ganache smoothed between layers of rich chocolate cake topped with Praline Frosting and a warm Bourbon Glaze make this recipe fit for special occasions.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
In some ways, Bequia remains a secret, and as such, it hasn’t been overly developed, commercialised or smoothed into sameness.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
Parish and Glasner smoothed things over somewhat at dinner at London’s Ham Yard restaurant on January 21.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Robinson’s death, before the legend was smoothed, even needed some rehabilitating from the Black Panthers, who eulogize him tellingly, as a product of his time.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
In subsequent phases, the ICRC smoothed returns of the deceased, including 27 of 28 hostages and 360 Palestinians.
—Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Her strands were smoothed close to the scalp with a soft curve at the ends, creating effortless movement and shine.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoothed
Verb
-
For Poppi, Finnegan facilitated an intro to the manager of Post Malone, who became one of the drink’s most high-profile ambassadors.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Oman previously hosted the indirect talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program and facilitated the latest round in Geneva last week.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The mixture of high-tech drones and World War I-style trench fighting has seen small groups of infantry — often just two or three soldiers — try to infiltrate enemy positions into towns flattened by Russian heavy artillery and glide bombs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Among the styles on display in Jones’ Covent Garden showroom were a reversible black hat with a fuzzy pink lining, and another style with a wide brim that could be flattened and slipped into a slim, soft pouch for travel.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That rubbed City fans up the wrong way, especially as many were not too happy with his performances anyway.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Their ice maker expelled large clumps of wet salt, which, when rubbed, dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance.—
Nick Bowlin,
The Frontier,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Agwunobi had claimed to have shaved $20 million off the hospital’s debt.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Max Silnicki, who runs the Washington Avenue Barber Shop, shaved the heads of 10,000 Jews in Nazi concentration camps before they were cremated.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fabrics are soft and lightweight, the shapes are polished, and many come in elevated colors and patterns that read high-end.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Feb. 2026
-
This density makes the granite particularly resilient to collisions and allows it to be polished to a finish smooth enough to glide on ice.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Other companies hit hard by worries about AI competition also trimmed their losses for the year.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The sheer blush pink mesh design was trimmed with matching feathers along the neckline and featured a ruffle with a distressed hem at the bottom, showing off a glimpse of silk pants under her dress as well as a pair of pointy-toed slides.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bear had raked a paw down the back of the tent, ripping it wide open.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The deck is now so stacked against consumers that 47% of all homeowners’ claims were closed with no payout at all in 2024, when hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton raked the state.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In 2021, a man planed to propose to his girlfriend during a romantic gondola ride in Las Vegas, with passersby stopping to watch and record the sweet moment.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smoothed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoothed. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
