soften

1 to diminish the physical strength of three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her Synonyms debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, weaken, tire, wasteRelated Words cripple, disable, hamstring, incapacitate; deplete, depress, exhaust, impoverish, unman, wash out; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, invalid, lay up; break down, grind (down), wear down, wear out; paralyzeNear Antonyms energize, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, vitalize; harden, season, toughenAntonyms beef (up), fortify, strengthen

2 to lessen the shock of had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal Synonyms buffer, gentle, cushionRelated Words baffle, dampen, deaden, dull, obtund; moderate, modulate, temper; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease; lighten, mitigate, relieveNear Antonyms heighten, intensify, sharpen