1
as in to weaken
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to alleviate
to lessen the shock of
had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soften
Plush jade bedspreads paired with silken green sheets or a jade accent wall would instantly soften a room and give it major earthy vibes.
—
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Each offering softened his views of what the right outcome should be.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
Magnesium has a calming effect in addition to relieving tight or achy muscles, while argan, jojoba, and sunflower seed oils set out to deeply nourish and soften skin.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Each offering softened his views of what the right outcome should be.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
Magnesium has a calming effect in addition to relieving tight or achy muscles, while argan, jojoba, and sunflower seed oils set out to deeply nourish and soften skin.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
-
When leaders visibly adjust decisions based on input, silence weakens.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Wet wipes contain alcohol and chemicals that strip natural oils, damage materials like leather, and weaken shoe adhesives.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Picture a bunch of people descending in private jets to eat steak and appear on panels about alleviating poverty and fighting climate change (among other noble goals), while clinking cocktail glasses with other fellow rich people in an effort to make one another even richer.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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Less Joint Pain Type II collagen is abundant in cartilage and may help alleviate joint pain in both healthy, active adults and those with osteoarthritis.—
Sarah Anzlovar,
Verywell Health,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But efforts to mitigate human harms—restricting harvests, remodeling dams, breeding salmon in hatcheries—are yielding diminishing returns.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
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Adding milk to coffee may help mitigate this effect.—
Fran Kritz,
Verywell Health,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Arctic weather conditions, seasonal darkness, limited transportation networks, and the costs of building large-scale infrastructure all temper the enthusiasm of even the most optimistic proponents.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Jan. 2026
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Hill, however, said fans should temper their expectations about McDaniel and the Chiefs.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Being more strategic than ever with personal finances can help buffer these effects.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Dec. 2025
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Small, everyday ways of being needed — helping a neighbor, being counted on at home, showing up for a team — can buffer against that harmful inner-scorekeeping and build a sturdier sense of self-worth.—
Jennifer Breheny Wallace,
CNBC,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The latex footbed is cushioned to mold to your feet, and the rubber sole is slip-resistant.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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Comfort classics like the Hoka Women’s Bondi 9s and New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4s will keep your feet cushioned, supported, and pain-free on long travel days.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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