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
Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Materials are interesting in that a low looks to have been established, while Capital Equipment has softened somewhat recently.
—Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In pastel satin, the shoe softened the architecture while saturating the butter tone that has been trending on red carpets all month.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Home values in Los Angeles and Orange counties softened in the past year as economic challenges outweighed fears that January’s wildfire destruction could propel prices even higher.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
For all the hours in the gym, the sweat poured into practice and the sessions with his psychologist, the scores never softened.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Tailored from a wool mélange fabric in a double-breasted stance, it’s softened by an unpadded shoulder and open patch pockets, lest anyone accuse you of gunning for the corner office.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
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
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
Adjective
Grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish with softened butter.
—Mary Claire Britton, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
What’s more, a lot of Americans still have mortgage rates that are low enough to make the idea of a move daunting, and affordability overall hasn’t improved much even as the economy has softened.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Materials are interesting in that a low looks to have been established, while Capital Equipment has softened somewhat recently.
—Randy Watts, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In pastel satin, the shoe softened the architecture while saturating the butter tone that has been trending on red carpets all month.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Home values in Los Angeles and Orange counties softened in the past year as economic challenges outweighed fears that January’s wildfire destruction could propel prices even higher.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
For all the hours in the gym, the sweat poured into practice and the sessions with his psychologist, the scores never softened.
—Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
Tailored from a wool mélange fabric in a double-breasted stance, it’s softened by an unpadded shoulder and open patch pockets, lest anyone accuse you of gunning for the corner office.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
-
The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Brad Ingelsby’s follow-up to the much-beloved Mare of Easttown switches focus from steely women to feeble men.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The feeble report all but confirms a Fed interest rate cut later this month and raises at least the possibility of a half point – rather than a typical quarter point - reduction, Saunders said.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That program has not alleviated concerns over postproduction deductions and, as of August, had not resolved any cases about that issue, the news organizations found.—
Jacob Orledge,
ProPublica,
15 Sep. 2025
-
What if Kraft Heinz alleviated that guilt?—
Hank Cardello,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Swift wore Elson 4, the brand’s best-selling blue-red, but the bullet-proof formula comes in 12 beautiful hues ranging from a soft beige peach (Nude Cabaret) to a deep bronzed rose (Flesh 3).—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Again, mitigated by the small sample size and the fact Emery intends to overload centrally, only Leeds United have attacked down the right more sparingly than Villa this term (30 per cent).—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Challenges can be mitigated by being proactive and involving compliance early in AI strategy discussions, giving them a voice in governance, ethics and risk mitigation decisions.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
At one job, Lee’s wrist was crushed in a pressing machine, an injury that left him officially designated as disabled.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
-
That includes rules on supplier diversity and a state law requiring annual reports on hiring of women, minorities, disabled veterans, and LGBTQ+ individuals.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Arch Fit sole provides support, and the heel pillow in the back keeps your foot cushioned.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This is a dramatic shift resulting from a substantial drop in living standards over the last few years, a drop that was not cushioned by the nation’s vast lithium reserves.—
Daniel Markind,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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