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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of softened
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Add half of eggplant and cook, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, 5–7 minutes.
—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 June 2026
The reason for the temporarily softened stance is that there will be significant changes to transit services and severe street closures to accommodate the massive crowds.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
For spring, Kiton’s suits showed lengthened silhouettes and softened proportions.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Just add three-quarters of a stick of softened unsalted butter and one egg to the contents of the box to make the dough.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
The softened fibers repel lint, hair, and static.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
At Van Cleef & Arpels, ancient Egyptian silhouettes are realized in softened but no less splendid formats.
—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter.
—
Kelly Brant,
Arkansas Online,
16 June 2026
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Think sharp crops softened by length, or longer cuts styled with a deliberate edge.
—
Genesis Rivas,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
According to Alaqua, significant dental issues were common among the Ridglan beagles because the dogs spent their early life consuming softened food from rabbit-style feeders rather than chewing solid food.
—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Acemoglu, for his part, hasn’t softened his public skepticism.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
The bedrooms are where the mood shifts just a bit—they’re still wrapped in wood, but are softened with velvet throws, patterned pillows, and bedding in shades of blue and green that nods to the surrounding forest and the lake.
—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Rielly had previously been unwilling to consider waiving his no-movement clause but has softened on that stance.
—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Adjective
This one hit the softened green just right and rolled in for an eagle.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Add half of eggplant and cook, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, 5–7 minutes.
—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 June 2026
The reason for the temporarily softened stance is that there will be significant changes to transit services and severe street closures to accommodate the massive crowds.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
For spring, Kiton’s suits showed lengthened silhouettes and softened proportions.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
Just add three-quarters of a stick of softened unsalted butter and one egg to the contents of the box to make the dough.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
The softened fibers repel lint, hair, and static.
—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
At Van Cleef & Arpels, ancient Egyptian silhouettes are realized in softened but no less splendid formats.
—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
In a mixing bowl, cream the softened butter.
—
Kelly Brant,
Arkansas Online,
16 June 2026
Verb
The company disputed the vulnerability's severity, while the government's position softened amid industry criticism and fears of Chinese competitors gaining an advantage.
—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Think sharp crops softened by length, or longer cuts styled with a deliberate edge.
—
Genesis Rivas,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
According to Alaqua, significant dental issues were common among the Ridglan beagles because the dogs spent their early life consuming softened food from rabbit-style feeders rather than chewing solid food.
—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
29 June 2026
Acemoglu, for his part, hasn’t softened his public skepticism.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 June 2026
The bedrooms are where the mood shifts just a bit—they’re still wrapped in wood, but are softened with velvet throws, patterned pillows, and bedding in shades of blue and green that nods to the surrounding forest and the lake.
—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
Rielly had previously been unwilling to consider waiving his no-movement clause but has softened on that stance.
—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
-
Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
-
In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Verb
-
Yet finance, policy certainty and infrastructure weakened for the first time in more than a decade.
-
Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.
Verb
-
The anticipated pain of a massive property tax increase in Jersey City has been alleviated somewhat.
-
Like the best episodes of The Pitt, this one is extremely stressful, alleviated by the catharsis of watching medical professionals do their jobs well.
Adjective
-
The gags are both belabored and feeble.
-
Jolted by a feeble office market, a growing number of developers are considering ways to convert their office properties to other uses, such as housing projects.
Verb
-
The toxicity of pro-Israel groups in Democratic primaries has been mitigated by the rise of artificial intelligence and crypto industry PACs.
-
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
Adjective
-
Recreational swimming is not permitted, yet anglers fishing for tilapia, largemouth bass and carp are a common sight along the rocky sides of the soft-bottom areas.
-
That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog.
Verb
-
Helsinki is buffered by more than 300 islands, and its harbor is always busy.
-
Commitment to the greater good buffered the AI aversion.
Adjective
-
The Dodge became disabled, and the troopers arrested the driver.
-
Homeless residents, many of whom don’t have a car or are disabled, now have to travel outside of Skid Row to get stamps or mail a package.
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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