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
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
The light softened toward sunset, an evening echo of the same violet sky that hovered over Julian at the start of the day.
—
Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Living at home can delay that process, especially when parents soften every landing.
—Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
The professor, who previously taught at Ferris State University in Michigan, acknowledged Denver’s softening apartment market, where vacancy is at its highest point since 2010.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
The primary suite is set apart on the upper floor and functions as a private retreat for rest and relaxation; the palette stays minimal, the lines soften, and the views carry through to the landscape.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Living at home can delay that process, especially when parents soften every landing.
—Ali Kaufman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
The professor, who previously taught at Ferris State University in Michigan, acknowledged Denver’s softening apartment market, where vacancy is at its highest point since 2010.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
The primary suite is set apart on the upper floor and functions as a private retreat for rest and relaxation; the palette stays minimal, the lines soften, and the views carry through to the landscape.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
-
Hungary is a major importer of Russian energy and the sanctions would have impacted the country's already weakening economy.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But instead, the resolution was further weakened to eliminate any reference to Security Council authorization — which is an order for action — and limit its provisions to the Strait of Hormuz.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pumps pulled seventeen million gallons of stormwater off the streets, and the new blue-and-green infrastructure absorbed runoff to alleviate pressure on the pipes.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The couple, who married in 1989, revealed on Monday that King-Crews was diagnosed with the condition in 2015 and recently underwent a medical procedure that has helped to alleviate symptoms on the right side of her body.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While the campus has seen many changes in the last four decades, most have been attempts to mitigate the greatest failures of Netsch’s vision without creating much memorable new work.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The impact on the waitlist might be mitigated by the small number of people going through the new process each year.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cheng was elected as party chairwoman late last year following a campaign that emphasized the need to temper the island’s provocations against the Communist regime.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Early reviews suggest fans may want to temper their expectations on the beer front.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For example, maintaining green spaces as wildlife habitat can buffer infrastructure from severe weather, erosion or flooding.—
Dan Salas,
The Conversation,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Delinquency rates are nearly double the rates from October 2021 but have taken longer to reach pre-COVID levels, buffered by rising home prices.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
South Africa will slash fuel taxes for a month to cushion consumers from a surge in oil prices triggered by the Middle East conflict, sacrificing millions of dollars in revenue for a fiscal framework only recently brought under control.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
His government has urged Australians to conserve fuel and outlined measures aimed at cushioning households and businesses from rising costs tied to disrupted global energy markets.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
