as in facilitating
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1
as in accelerating
to free from obstruction or difficulty
a willingness to compromise will smooth the way to an early agreement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flattening
to make free from breaks, curves, or bumps
the workers smoothed the surface of the concrete before letting it dry
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in polishing
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure
used fine sandpaper to smooth the face of the wood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smoothing
Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 29 May 2026
As its name suggests, Naturium’s Retinol Complex Serum contains line-smoothing retinol, plumping vitamin E, and firming bakuchiol.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 May 2026
Once set, use the remaining buttercream to frost the top and sides of the cake, smoothing it evenly or creating textured patterns with a spatula.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
This smoothing foundation by Charlotte Tilbury, this Mac pressed powder that keeps shine at bay, and an Olaplex hair duo that’ll wash sweaty summer buildup right down the drain.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
CosRx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster isn’t just about packing in as many peptides as possible—each peptide has a different job, from supporting elasticity and smoothing fine lines to calming skin and boosting radiance.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 May 2026
Made from 94 percent cotton, they’re designed with smoothing front pockets and an extra-high waist to help create a flattering shape.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust, smoothing the top.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Duffy has said the system could help planners spot problems weeks in advance, smoothing schedules before delays begin to stack up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Verb
In addition to hydrating hair and combating dryness, this mask is fantastic for smoothing frizz and making hair more manageable.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, Glamour, 29 May 2026
As its name suggests, Naturium’s Retinol Complex Serum contains line-smoothing retinol, plumping vitamin E, and firming bakuchiol.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 May 2026
Once set, use the remaining buttercream to frost the top and sides of the cake, smoothing it evenly or creating textured patterns with a spatula.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
This smoothing foundation by Charlotte Tilbury, this Mac pressed powder that keeps shine at bay, and an Olaplex hair duo that’ll wash sweaty summer buildup right down the drain.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
CosRx’s The 6 Peptide Skin Booster isn’t just about packing in as many peptides as possible—each peptide has a different job, from supporting elasticity and smoothing fine lines to calming skin and boosting radiance.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 May 2026
Made from 94 percent cotton, they’re designed with smoothing front pockets and an extra-high waist to help create a flattering shape.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026
Pour the filling into the unbaked pie crust, smoothing the top.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Duffy has said the system could help planners spot problems weeks in advance, smoothing schedules before delays begin to stack up.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoothing
Verb
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Each front wheel can also independently travel vertically by as much as 260 mm, plus there's a rear shock with 120 mm of travel, facilitating smooth and level travel over rough and uneven terrain.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 June 2026
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For over 55 years, the firm has believed in The Value of Voice®, a planning model that elicits the voice of each stakeholder, facilitating communication and consensus between executive leadership and boards of directors.—
Jim Hebets,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
It’s been repeatedly said that AI is flattening the org chart.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
An explosion at a building believed to be storing explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed at least 46 people and injured dozens more, according to rescuers and others, flattening homes near the border with China.—
Grant Peck,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Another highlight of my visit was experiencing Bastien's Manicure, an in-spa collaboration with nail-care specialists Bastien Gonzalez, which pairs meticulous cuticle work and a thorough massage with a natural nail-polishing technique that eliminates the need for nail polish entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
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There’s the difficulty of sintering and polishing the ceramic, and then there’s maintaining the purity of the look.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Fairley also admitted Thursday to placing wagers and recruiting and bribing college basketball players to underperform in games in a separate NCAA point-shaving case brought by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
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The people who stand to gain the most from this record-setting refresh rate are high-level competitors with PCs that can push extremely high frame rates, for whom shaving down the smallest fractions of latency can make a real difference.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Speaking of harnesses, fliers put on a base layer like compression shorts to protect from rubbing, and costume designer Ryan Park designed clothes to hide and accommodate the harnesses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
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Cholowsky wrapped both his arms around the boy and lowered his head onto the crown of the blue helmet, absentmindedly rubbing his back.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones.—
Jennifer Borresen,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Michael is stepping into a really key role trimming the wing, which is probably one of the harder roles on the F50.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Just avoid raking clover seed after planting as this covers the seeds with too much soil and reduces germination rates.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
-
Its pointed corners fit into crevices for raking out hard-to-reach pet hair from the car’s interior, car mats or any other fabric surface.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The under-$10 serum is formulated with 2 percent multimolecular hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000 peptide, a combination of ingredients that quenches the skin while smoothening wrinkles and firming crepey areas.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoothing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoothing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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