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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of soften
October 23 – November 21 Intensity softens when truth gets air.
—
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
As the month progresses, the energy softens and becomes more supportive.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Keep reading to find the best way to soften better for your next recipe.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
The softening job market comes even as the U.S. economy keeps growing, often beyond projections.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
As the month progresses, the energy softens and becomes more supportive.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Keep reading to find the best way to soften better for your next recipe.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
The softening job market comes even as the U.S. economy keeps growing, often beyond projections.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
-
In overwhelmingly Democratic districts, the outcome is almost always predetermined, further depressing turnout and weakening accountability.—
Grace Rauh,
New York Daily News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Healthy Rivers and Landscapes’ flexibility represents potentially weakened enforceable safeguards for environmental and tribal groups, as the program relies on voluntary commitments instead of mandatory flow standards.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Convinced by Erdoğan’s argument that only a strong leader could alleviate their concerns about the country’s security and economy, the people of Turkey had approved his proposal.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In the meantime, proposals gaining traction in the legislature aim to find ways to enact cost savings within the Pathways program, with the hopes that this in turn could be used to alleviate the waitlist.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Deputies and members of the Coal Creek Canyon Fire Department will remain on the scene to mitigate hot spots and investigate the cause.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Robles decided one way to mitigate the damage would be to give away food to everyone who came to his restaurant for dinner Thursday.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino had pushed back against internal efforts to temper his aggressive approach months before two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Those around Kraft told him to temper his expectations.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But what if some species have evolved ways to buffer reproduction against environmental change?—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Adding probiotics to a meal may help buffer stomach acid, which OSF Healthcare gastroenterologist Omar Khokar, MD, explained allows more of the beneficial bacteria to reach the small bowel, maximizing their effects.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Overall, the services that are helping to cushion the damage of this devastating conflict are being limited by the communications issues.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Beyond exfoliation, panthenol, adenosine, and glycoproteins help hydrate and add a little bounce back, while macadamia seed oil keeps the finish cushioned rather than tight.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
