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
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Recent Examples of soften
The sheer scale of Hosoda’s success may have softened his storytelling instincts, even if the aesthetics are occasionally remarkable.
—
Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Other Colorado metros have also seen inventory build over the last year, and many have seen prices soften annually as well.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Contemporary forms and sleek materials are softened with touches of warmth, organic textures, and colorful accents for interiors that feel modern but never cold.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Users are reporting that ChatGPT has become more cautious and softened in tone, avoiding sharp opinions or controversial statements.
—Avital Pardo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Other Colorado metros have also seen inventory build over the last year, and many have seen prices soften annually as well.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Contemporary forms and sleek materials are softened with touches of warmth, organic textures, and colorful accents for interiors that feel modern but never cold.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
Users are reporting that ChatGPT has become more cautious and softened in tone, avoiding sharp opinions or controversial statements.
—Avital Pardo, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Israeli strikes severely weakened Hezbollah – culminating in the assassination of its revered leader, Hassan Nasrallah – and significantly curtailed the group’s domestic clout.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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Symptoms related to Listeria monocytogenes Listeria is especially harmful to people whose immune system is weakened or not fully developed but can also impact healthy individuals.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even so, the £125m British-record fee received for Isak (which the club insist is actually worth £130m to them due to solidarity payments being waived) is an astronomical fee and should alleviate any concerns about the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules for several windows to come.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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That simplifies the process for fans, but probably doesn’t alleviate the sticker shock.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With more passengers than ever traveling with electronic devices, airlines and regulators are increasingly taking measures to mitigate against the risks.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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But local and state leaders say recent measures meant to mitigate waste and fraud in the federal government have made this historically slow process even slower – causing funds already green-lighted by FEMA to sit for months before making their way to the state.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But the initial enthusiasm for the city’s stablecoin drive has been tempered by a cautious regulatory approach, keeping it from replicating the breakneck growth seen in the United States.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
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But if such factors tempered the public’s instinct to rush to the harshest judgments, the ordeal also revealed how the corporatization of sports betting had done little to snuff out a secretive underworld estimated to be responsible for $64 billion in illicit wagers annually.—
DAVID AMSDEN,
Rolling Stone,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After all, financial security can buffer against many of life’s stresses.—
Robert B. Tucker,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Learning new skills—rock climbing, knitting, chess—can buffer against cognitive decline.—
Alexandra Moe,
The Atlantic,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While some flat shoes can lack support, these mules have a memory foam insole that helps cushion your feet, specifically around your arch and the ball of your foot.—
Rachel Trujillo,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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The sleek, stylish, and softly cushioned Sonos Ace headphones are now discounted by $100, and that's music to our ears.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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