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
The sunscreen smooths, hydrates, and softens your skin, adds a hint of pigment, and protects with serious S.P.F. 50.
—
Air Mail, 2 Aug. 2025
One of her kids gave her a camera, and with it Cameron revolutionized photography by manipulating her exposures to soften and blur, for dramatic results.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Cena’s character is beginning to soften and it’s been a pleasure to watch the storytelling.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Joseph’s now-public stance may soften United’s resolve, but he will not be allowed to leave cheaply.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Air Mail, 2 Aug. 2025
One of her kids gave her a camera, and with it Cameron revolutionized photography by manipulating her exposures to soften and blur, for dramatic results.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Cena’s character is beginning to soften and it’s been a pleasure to watch the storytelling.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Joseph’s now-public stance may soften United’s resolve, but he will not be allowed to leave cheaply.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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For Trump, whose political brand has long relied on projecting authenticity to his base, a sustained decline in honesty ratings could weaken his ability to roll out his agenda.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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This means banana particles can remain between teeth for an extended period, giving bacteria more time to produce acids that weaken tooth enamel.14 6.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That focus on charity aligns with the group’s overall commitment to donate proceeds to promote sustainability and help alleviate food insecurity around the world.—
Laurie Werner,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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In the Conservative movement, meanwhile, the Rabbinical Assembly cited Jewish values in calling on the Israeli government to alleviate the suffering in Gaza.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Mop-up, suppression repair, mitigating hazard trees and putting out the few places with a little smoke in the interior of the fire area are the main tasks in cleaning up this fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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But as a desire to mitigate climate change impacted consumer choice and federal policy, like the Inflation Reduction Act, Indiana became a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While blending, slowly add the warm milks and mascarpone to temper the mixture so the eggs don’t scramble.—
Alex Cason,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Aug. 2025
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However, the lack of any real artificial intelligence strategy updates tempered investor enthusiasm.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Media coalitions' cases challenging similar police buffer laws in Louisiana and Tennessee remain pending.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
6 Aug. 2025
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By improving accuracy in demand planning and reducing overpayments in customs processes, firms can buffer against unpredictable tariff costs.—
Jessica Mendoza,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Central banks intervened with rate cuts during periods of economic weakness, helping to cushion the blow when equity markets were under pressure.—
Daniel Kern,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The pad has a slip-resistant belt that’s cushioned by a shock-absorbing pad, reducing strain on the user's joints.—
Maggie Horton,
People.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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