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
No amount of status should soften abuse.
—
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
In a study published Tuesday in Physical Review Letters, researchers revealed that under extreme, high-speed conditions, heat doesn’t soften pure metals.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Expensive; may chip easily This deep purple-red reflects light, softening the appearance of veins, sunspots and discoloration.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026
With a bit of slow cooking, those impossibly pert, shiny tomatoes relax and soften, releasing their juices to mingle in a deeply satisfying dish.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
In a study published Tuesday in Physical Review Letters, researchers revealed that under extreme, high-speed conditions, heat doesn’t soften pure metals.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026
Expensive; may chip easily This deep purple-red reflects light, softening the appearance of veins, sunspots and discoloration.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 16 Feb. 2026
With a bit of slow cooking, those impossibly pert, shiny tomatoes relax and soften, releasing their juices to mingle in a deeply satisfying dish.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Getty Images Since the June strikes, Iran’s rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-living crisis driven in part by international sanctions that have strangled the country’s oil income.—
Max Burman,
NBC news,
17 Feb. 2026
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Some purchasers had issues with the hook-and-loop straps weakening quickly.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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To help alleviate that, the Santa Clara County approved funding in December 2023 to develop and staff a new center based in South County.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Local nonprofit Tax Help Colorado wants to help alleviate some of your stress.—
Mekialaya White,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Schumaker said Sunday that health — and, more specifically, an alignment that best mitigates usage injuries for each individual over the course of a season — may ultimately drive the decision.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Texas must invest heavily in workforce training and work with labor unions to mitigate negative effects on workers.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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How Obama tried to temper his answer the following day.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
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However, supply-side dynamics could temper that seasonal pressure.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But what if some species have evolved ways to buffer reproduction against environmental change?—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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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
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Vionic Jill Booties Oprah swears by Vionic’s ultra-comfy and cushioned footwear, and the Vionic Jill Booties are a gorgeous example of why.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Feb. 2026
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The texture is plush and velvety, almost marshmallow-like, with a cushioning slip that feels nourishing rather than harsh.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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