as in weak
lacking bodily strength
the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in weakened
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tempered
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 softened
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite softened rhetoric from White House officials, federal immigration enforcement continues unabated in the city with no sign of fundamental policy change.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
That and the convenience of softened butter are two good reasons why butter is often stored at room temperature in certain households.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 1 large shallot, thinly sliced into rings, and 8 garlic cloves, crushed, and cook, stirring often, until softened and light golden around the edges, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
What is offered in Nike’s turquoise sneaker is a softened, market-safe version of his legacy, stripped of its demands.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Start with softened butter for the best results.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Wipe down the warm oven, removing softened grime with a microfiber cloth or sponge.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
The softened linen ruffle skirt is a standout for its beautiful drape, unique shade, and its thoughtful pleat keeps it more Provençal than shabby chic.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Continue to toss and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until cabbage is softened and slightly translucent.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And my emotional responses softened.
—Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
Kahn and Noguchi softened its edges to make concessions to the neighborhood, and there were enough supporters to fight the usual community pushback.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Eggplant parm comes lightly breaded, with thin planks of eggplant softened into a tender slab, and the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage tastes particularly vibrant thanks to a superb balancing act from white wine and garlic.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
Stidham apparently did not notice New England’s cornerback had softened his coverage, gaining prime position to make the sealing interception.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
It is reformulated, regulated, softened by time and law.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Add bell peppers and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Then scrape the softened wax away with a butterknife.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite softened rhetoric from White House officials, federal immigration enforcement continues unabated in the city with no sign of fundamental policy change.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
That and the convenience of softened butter are two good reasons why butter is often stored at room temperature in certain households.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 1 large shallot, thinly sliced into rings, and 8 garlic cloves, crushed, and cook, stirring often, until softened and light golden around the edges, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
What is offered in Nike’s turquoise sneaker is a softened, market-safe version of his legacy, stripped of its demands.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
Start with softened butter for the best results.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026
Wipe down the warm oven, removing softened grime with a microfiber cloth or sponge.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
The softened linen ruffle skirt is a standout for its beautiful drape, unique shade, and its thoughtful pleat keeps it more Provençal than shabby chic.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Today’s top stories Mayor Bass and the fires Bass wanted key findings in a report about the Los Angeles Fire Department’s shortcomings removed or softened, sources told The Times.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Continue to toss and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until cabbage is softened and slightly translucent.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And my emotional responses softened.
—Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
Kahn and Noguchi softened its edges to make concessions to the neighborhood, and there were enough supporters to fight the usual community pushback.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Eggplant parm comes lightly breaded, with thin planks of eggplant softened into a tender slab, and the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage tastes particularly vibrant thanks to a superb balancing act from white wine and garlic.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
Stidham apparently did not notice New England’s cornerback had softened his coverage, gaining prime position to make the sealing interception.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
It is reformulated, regulated, softened by time and law.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Add bell peppers and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
-
Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
New York — US stocks dropped Thursday, continuing a recent patch of volatility, as Wall Street grappled with persistent nerves about artificial intelligence and economic data showed the labor market weakened over the past two months.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lydia Romero strained to hear her husband’s feeble voice through the phone.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That said, international filmmaking is in feeble shape, partly because of the jambalaya of international co-productions, partly because of the inroads of television aesthetics, and partly because of the cloistered aestheticism of self-conscious art-house cinema.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There appeared to be a lack of options in central midfield but the signing of Gomes and the emergence of Mateus Mane have alleviated that.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Rather than dismissing the case outright or barring the government from seeking the death penalty, prosecutors argued, the defense’s concerns can best be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case and ensuring Mangione’s rights are respected at trial.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Snag this extra-soft sheet set for 83% off, which is available in numerous colors and sizes.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
So too is the ancient dining room at Scotti's, with its Chianti bottle candle holders dripping with wax and soft opera music always playing through the speakers.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the auditor, state losses may have been mitigated if lawmakers had acted on earlier recommendations.—
Julie Watts,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Commission also extended its December 2023 investigation to assess whether X properly mitigated risks linked to its recommender systems.—
Martina Di Licosa,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Users who register as younger than 13 will automatically get a Cabined Account that requires parental consent via email and voice/text chat, spending money and custom display names are disabled unless a parent provides consent.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
4 Feb. 2026
-
These individuals are often left destitute, disabled, and in chronic pain from medically unnecessary procedures.—
Elizabeth Heck,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mattering acted as a kind of protective shield that buffered against anxiety and depression.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Because retinoids can be drying, the formula is buffered with nourishing oils like squalane, olive, sunflower, linseed, rice bran, coconut, and grape seed to support the skin barrier.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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