soften

verb

ˈsȯ-fən How to pronounce soften (audio)
Definition of softennext
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

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 On that topic of change, McIlroy began softening his stance about LIV players returning to the PGA Tour months ago. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 The milestone arrives at a precarious time for Australia’s festival sector, which has seen a wave of cancellations and closures in recent years amid rising costs and softening ticket sales. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 These Best of Beauty-winning formulas strike the perfect balance between lip care and lip color, providing both softening and exfoliating benefits and a punch of color. — Catharine Malzahn, Allure, 12 Oct. 2026 The drinks, developed with Pankaj Balachandran of Countertop, include a whisky highball made with water softened in clay pots over days. — Karina Acharya, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
  1. weaken
  2. alleviate
  3. mitigate
  4. temper
  5. buffer
  6. cushion
Verb
  • Conditions were expected to improve Saturday afternoon as winds weakened, with fair and dry weather forecast for the remainder of the weekend.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • As trust in America weakens further, other wealthy nations will make the same calculation.
    — Fareed Zakaria, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • To alleviate the itchy bites, travelers on the flight were provided with antihistamines, though the crew eventually ran out of the medication, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Around the same time, fears of a smaller Chinese crop brought about by an exceptionally hot summer in Xinjiang were alleviated by stronger-than-expected yields.
    — SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2020 Congress passed legislation that sought to mitigate the economic harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to her achievements in growing the WNBA, Engelbert has also been criticized by players for her management style and failure, at times, to mitigate controversy.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • Although bright whites dominate the hotel’s design, the warmth of unvarnished wood furniture does much to temper its starkness, and judicious use of pops of colour – fresh greens, yellows and florals – gives visual interest to the luxe space.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier stages of the digital revolution offer reasons to temper those expectations.
    — RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of temper
Verb
  • With the team’s new system, the heat pump heats water and uses a large tank to buffer the heat.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • By holding water on the land, these peatlands not only reduce the risk of flooding downstream, but also buffer the landscape against drought, keeping soils moist and supporting nearby forests through dry spells.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • Du Halgouët said the region’s performance was supported by retail sales at its own-brand stores, while the company’s focus on higher-value products, particularly leather goods and jewelry, helped cushion the decline.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Hit your late 70s though, and you are not cushioned from bereavement.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of cushion

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soften
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Cite this Entry

“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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