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
While Takaichi appears to have softened her stance, this push to strengthen the yen is still at odds of with her plans for massive fiscal spending and a loose monetary policy.
—
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Light pink referenced standard awareness campaigns, but the deepening shades, culminating in black, confronted the audience with the harsh reality of metastatic disease, which is typically softened by glossy pink ribbons.
—Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
Once frozen solid and then allowed to slightly soften for serving, the filling is creamy-icy and the crust is buttery-crunchy.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
Council members urged city officials to soften future rate hikes by increasing PUD revenues beyond ratepayer fees.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Light pink referenced standard awareness campaigns, but the deepening shades, culminating in black, confronted the audience with the harsh reality of metastatic disease, which is typically softened by glossy pink ribbons.
—Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 30 Oct. 2025
Once frozen solid and then allowed to slightly soften for serving, the filling is creamy-icy and the crust is buttery-crunchy.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025
Council members urged city officials to soften future rate hikes by increasing PUD revenues beyond ratepayer fees.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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At the same time, leaving grass too long over the winter can shade the soil and weaken the grass.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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In addition to the GOP leaders, most rank-and-file Senate Republicans also oppose repealing the filibuster that’s been slowly weakened by both parties in recent decades for Executive Branch and judicial nominees.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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So, Taylor woke up with his head half-shaven and a shunt installed to help alleviate the pressure and drain out the spinal fluid that the tumor was blocking.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
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The funds are meant to alleviate monetary barriers and enhance the fashion industry’s talent pipeline.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If Adams takes no action, Flagstar faces a tougher scenario but the bank can still take steps to mitigate the blow, the analyst noted.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
4 Nov. 2025
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Batteries help ratepayers, too For some, the issue is less about mitigating climate change.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, his government maintains some Chinese financial ties, including a standing currency swap with the People’s Bank of China, showing that pragmatism may temper ideology.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
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In surveys, more than half of companies expect to raise deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, or otherwise redesign plans to temper the trend.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
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Drinking coffee after breakfast, on the other hand, can help buffer the blood sugar response.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down over time.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Litfun slippers are constructed with a thick memory foam footbed that gently cushions and supports your feet with each step, while the faux fur lining offers plenty of warmth for chilly days.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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