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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of soften
Swap them for warm white LEDs to immediately soften the mood.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
The formula features nourishing essential oils like sunflower, safflower, sesame, and sweet almond to soften and support the barrier, while lavender, juniper, and citrus calm your body (and mind).
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Apr. 2026
The leather softens beautifully with each wear, and the slim silhouette styles well with virtually everything—cropped trousers, slip skirts, even relaxed denim.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
For opposition leaders, Devoe’s appointment represents an attempt to soften the government’s international image without structural change.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
The formula features nourishing essential oils like sunflower, safflower, sesame, and sweet almond to soften and support the barrier, while lavender, juniper, and citrus calm your body (and mind).
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Apr. 2026
The leather softens beautifully with each wear, and the slim silhouette styles well with virtually everything—cropped trousers, slip skirts, even relaxed denim.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
For opposition leaders, Devoe’s appointment represents an attempt to soften the government’s international image without structural change.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Sinlaku is forecast to continue weakening through the next few days, the National Weather Service said, passing west of the islands of Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan through the latter half of the week.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Some target the bacterial cell wall, weakening it until the cell breaks apart and dies.—
Panteha Torabian,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This ancient Chinese practice, now widely used throughout the world, involves insertion of very thin needles into specific points on the skin to treat disease and alleviate pain.—
Dr. Patricia Richard,
Hartford Courant,
14 Apr. 2026
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In 1848, the landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing observed that places like Green-Wood and Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston did a better job of alleviating stress than encouraging somberness.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
April 10,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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But that challenge is mitigated by the fact that this company has demonstrated its resilience.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, her spokeswoman was quick to temper the excitement, telling the paper that Sánchez was not having a baby.—
Blanche Marcel,
Vanity Fair,
13 Apr. 2026
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Because of her ability to calm and temper her emotions, she is connected with Aries, as the ferocious sign can resort to unruly means to prove its point and provoke conflict.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though some countries have moved to buffer against the war’s worst impacts — several are considering restarting nuclear reactors for the first time in years — the consequences are likely to be long lasting even if the ceasefire holds, experts warned.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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An early decision to reorient the structures—to capture broader views and buffer the beach access road—proved pivotal.—
David Foxley,
Architectural Digest,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The warning comes as more countries roll out measures to cushion the blow from a surge in energy prices because of the war.—
Charbel Mallo,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
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Did the jokes cushion the blow?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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