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
But wearing the Eclipser softened that transition.
—
Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
And there was probably some softening that was happening there.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
This gel also softens stool and slows digestion.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 16 Mar. 2026
Add ground beef, onion, celery, black pepper and 1 teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring often to crumble, until beef is browned and onions are softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Joe Jackson, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
And there was probably some softening that was happening there.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2026
This gel also softens stool and slows digestion.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 16 Mar. 2026
Add ground beef, onion, celery, black pepper and 1 teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring often to crumble, until beef is browned and onions are softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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When presidents sidestep formal addresses and Congress declines to insist upon them, the deliberative architecture of the republic weakens.—
Kenneth Zagacki,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Mar. 2026
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High supply and weakening renter demand have apartment landlords living in an ever-more competitive space.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The project will relocate entrance and exit ramps to help alleviate congestion from surrounding neighborhoods.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
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The soft, squeezable texture of this toy is designed to alleviate stress and provide endless fun.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
16 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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Warning the participants that they might be exposed to misinformation by the AI didn’t temper the persuasive effect either.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
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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
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 18 Mar. 2026.
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