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
Upstairs, the atmosphere softens into something more intimate.
—
Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Some, like Fox host Mark Levin, are rhetorically softening the ground in support of a wider military effort inside Iran.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
With vintage terrazzo flooring, coffered ceilings, built in clean-line wooden wardrobes, and minimalist decor, this spot is a midcentury Italian dream, softened by the country charm of its setting, not far from the historic village of Gravedona.
—Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 30 Mar. 2026
Roast until beginning to soften, about 25 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Vicki Power, TheWeek, 31 Mar. 2026
Some, like Fox host Mark Levin, are rhetorically softening the ground in support of a wider military effort inside Iran.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
With vintage terrazzo flooring, coffered ceilings, built in clean-line wooden wardrobes, and minimalist decor, this spot is a midcentury Italian dream, softened by the country charm of its setting, not far from the historic village of Gravedona.
—Madeline Weinfield, Architectural Digest, 30 Mar. 2026
Roast until beginning to soften, about 25 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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But the president contends there is no excuse for the lack of participation now that Iran's navy has been sunk and its air defenses severely weakened.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lack of communication from airlines during disruptions is a major complaint from customers across carriers, and anything companies can do to alleviate that will help with those frustrations.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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By this point, experts were warning that half a million people in Gaza were at risk of starvation, and organizations such as the Rabbinical Assembly, an association of Conservative rabbis, were urging immediate action to alleviate civilian suffering.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in mitigating the risk of wildfires during these perilous conditions.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
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Stevenson says a balanced portfolio typically includes a mix of equities, bonds, cash, and real assets, and that this mix helps to mitigate potential losses from any single investment.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cheng was elected as party chairwoman late last year following a campaign that emphasized the need to temper the island’s provocations against the Communist regime.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
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Early reviews suggest fans may want to temper their expectations on the beer front.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Delinquency rates are nearly double the rates from October 2021 but have taken longer to reach pre-COVID levels, buffered by rising home prices.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
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The body has ways to buffer this, including the kidneys producing and retaining more bicarbonate, which plays a key role in controlling blood acidity.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The government introduced a curb on gasoline prices earlier this month, aimed at cushioning the blow from rising energy prices and easing pressure on living costs.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
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His challenge is finding a way to maximize the revenue boost from the oil price rise while cushioning the impact on the poorest people in a nation where around 60% of the population live below the World Bank’s poverty line.—
Alexis Akwagyiram,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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