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
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and release moisture, about 10 minutes.
—
Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The sum of these ingredients is firming, tightening, brightening, tone-evening, softening, moisturizing, and wrinkle-smoothing benefits.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until just softened, about 2 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Due to the high water content of onions (about 90%), their structure will soften after freezing.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The sum of these ingredients is firming, tightening, brightening, tone-evening, softening, moisturizing, and wrinkle-smoothing benefits.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until just softened, about 2 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Due to the high water content of onions (about 90%), their structure will soften after freezing.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many Angelenos believe the city’s leaders have squandered billions in funds meant to alleviate the homelessness crisis and allowed unhoused people to take over public space.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Michael said training, guidance and policies could help alleviate the potential risks associated with introducing AI into the workforce, such as when agents magnify or mask errors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The administration may believe that the oil price shock will be short-lived and mitigated by providing naval escorts for tankers transiting Hormuz.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Buckley says legislators do not need to sacrifice their constituents’ First Amendment rights and privacy to make a safer internet and address many of the harms these proposals seek to mitigate.—
Barbara Booth,
CNBC,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As for severe thunderstorms, there will be moderate instability, but thick cloud cover and the potential for heavy rain should temper any widespread severe weather across Central Texas.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
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Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos has since tried to temper these concerns.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While the global market normally relies on spare capacity in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait to buffer against price shocks, Struyven explained that those barrels typically must flow through the Strait of Hormuz to reach global buyers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
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Oil imports expanded across Russia (particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine), the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa while strategic petroleum reserves were built to buffer sudden shocks like the ones that may be on the near-term horizon.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pillow is hypoallergenic with a shredded latex core to cushion your neck, head, and shoulders in any position.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
11 Mar. 2026
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These sneakers are cushioned and intensely supportive, suited for anything from roadside jogging to gym reps, to heading out for a long, leisurely walk with a friend.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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