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
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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
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and release moisture, about 10 minutes.
—
Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The sum of these ingredients is firming, tightening, brightening, tone-evening, softening, moisturizing, and wrinkle-smoothing benefits.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until just softened, about 2 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Due to the high water content of onions (about 90%), their structure will soften after freezing.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
The sum of these ingredients is firming, tightening, brightening, tone-evening, softening, moisturizing, and wrinkle-smoothing benefits.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Cook, stirring often, until just softened, about 2 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
Due to the high water content of onions (about 90%), their structure will soften after freezing.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many Angelenos believe the city’s leaders have squandered billions in funds meant to alleviate the homelessness crisis and allowed unhoused people to take over public space.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Michael said training, guidance and policies could help alleviate the potential risks associated with introducing AI into the workforce, such as when agents magnify or mask errors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, China ordered refiners to stop refined fuel exports so as to mitigate potential domestic fuel shortages, according to Reuters.—
Lim Hui Jie,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
15 Mar. 2026
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Bethune said while tapping strategic oil reserves may help mitigate the demand pinch, easing sanctions on Russian oil will have little impact on world oil prices.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As for severe thunderstorms, there will be moderate instability, but thick cloud cover and the potential for heavy rain should temper any widespread severe weather across Central Texas.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
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Netflix co-Chief Executive Ted Sarandos has since tried to temper these concerns.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Amazon Mesh Wi-Fi System Deal Say goodbye to dropped video calls and buffering nightmares with the Eero 6+ Mesh System.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
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Videos buffered and the streaming quality wasn’t always good.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The pillow is hypoallergenic with a shredded latex core to cushion your neck, head, and shoulders in any position.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
11 Mar. 2026
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These sneakers are cushioned and intensely supportive, suited for anything from roadside jogging to gym reps, to heading out for a long, leisurely walk with a friend.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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