Synonyms of soften

soften

verb

ˈsȯ-fən 

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

• weaken
• hurt
• injure
• waste
• debilitate
• exhaust
• tire
• enfeeble
• paralyze
• damage
• sap
• enervate
• devitalize
• impair
• depress
• deplete
• cripple
• prostrate
• etiolate
• incapacitate
• disable
• harm
• impoverish
• hamstring
• grind (down)
• lay up
• wash out
• invalid
• wear out
• wear down
• unman
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthen
• fortify
• recruit
• energize
• harden
• beef (up)
• season
• invigorate
• rejuvenate
• vitalize
• toughen

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

• alleviate
• mitigate
• temper
• buffer
• cushion
• relieve
• ease
• dull
• gentle
• modulate
• deaden
• dampen
• moderate
• lighten
• allay
• baffle
• assuage
• obtund

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intensify
• sharpen
• heighten

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of soften

And while the microwave might seem like an easy solution to soften honey, it should be avoided at all costs. — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026

In other words, Lander did not feel the need to appease the Zionist mob by softening his rhetoric. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

The singer styled a floral tank top from Chloé with black stovepipe jeans, softening the dark wash with a touch of flower power. — Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 20 July 2026

On the skin care side, there’s glycerin, a moisture magnet, and squalane, a wrinkle-plumping softening ingredient. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 20 July 2026