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
Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 10 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The biggest difference between a butter crock and a butter dish is that a butter crock uses water to seal off the bottom of the butter from oxygen, which helps keep it softened and fresh for longer than when in a butter dish exposed to air.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
Its low-slung silhouette and softened lines have a groovy ‘70s feel that’s not dated.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Brush the turkey with the vegetable oil or rub with softened butter.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Across the album, delicate chimes, gritty shakers, and orchestral strings radiate like the softened glow of old music videos.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2025
The Steamer 30—a foldable bag created in the early 1900s to fit in the travel trunks of that era—has been reimagined with a more softened, contemporary structure.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 15 Jan. 2026
Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Add tortilla chips; cook until softened, about 2 minutes.
—Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
When growth relies so heavily on a narrow group of high earners, economists warn of broader economic risks, particularly when hiring has softened and wage gains have slowed.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore said Monday that language in the Palisades fire after-action report was intentionally softened for public release, as internal evaluations were made available to the public for the first time.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to Dutch oven; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 8 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
California Republicans and some drivers have warned that fewer refineries could push gas prices higher — a political vulnerability for Newsom, who has softened his criticism of fossil fuel companies and reached out to executives.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Tips for Making Cherry Cookies Decker’s recipe doesn’t call for softened butter, but allowing the butter to soften before beating it with the sugar (a process known as creaming) will lead to a lighter, fluffier texture.
—Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 10 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The biggest difference between a butter crock and a butter dish is that a butter crock uses water to seal off the bottom of the butter from oxygen, which helps keep it softened and fresh for longer than when in a butter dish exposed to air.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2025
Its low-slung silhouette and softened lines have a groovy ‘70s feel that’s not dated.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Brush the turkey with the vegetable oil or rub with softened butter.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Nov. 2025
Across the album, delicate chimes, gritty shakers, and orchestral strings radiate like the softened glow of old music videos.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2025
The Steamer 30—a foldable bag created in the early 1900s to fit in the travel trunks of that era—has been reimagined with a more softened, contemporary structure.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
An Educational Tool As Wikipedia’s use grew, some educators softened their stance, encouraging its use to find leads to sources that students could dig into directly.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 15 Jan. 2026
Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Add tortilla chips; cook until softened, about 2 minutes.
—Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
When growth relies so heavily on a narrow group of high earners, economists warn of broader economic risks, particularly when hiring has softened and wage gains have slowed.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore said Monday that language in the Palisades fire after-action report was intentionally softened for public release, as internal evaluations were made available to the public for the first time.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 13 Jan. 2026
Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to Dutch oven; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 8 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
California Republicans and some drivers have warned that fewer refineries could push gas prices higher — a political vulnerability for Newsom, who has softened his criticism of fossil fuel companies and reached out to executives.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
-
Its formula of ceramides, astaxanthin, and arginine strengthen, provide elasticity, and heal weak or broken hair.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
-
These winds could occasionally trigger minor (G1-level) geomagnetic storm activity, though displays are expected to be weaker and more sporadic than those seen over the weekend.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Complimentary data from uGMRT reveals a very steep radio spectrum indicative of old, weakened plasma particles.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
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The body tries to repair the damage, but healing is often slow and incomplete, leaving the bone weakened and vulnerable to collapse or deformity — changes that can lead to lasting hip problems.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The feeble job market may be keeping wage growth subdued, some economists point out.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The reality is that although Venezuela has vast reserves—about 17% of the entire planet’s oil is under Venezuelan soil—its production is feeble.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That money alleviated economic hardship for many families, but some of it also helped people pay for illicit drugs, the Pittsburgh researchers say.—
Mike Stobbe,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
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Any concerns about public perceptions can be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case, prosecutors wrote in a court filing.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Between its dig-free straps, silky-soft performance fabric, and light Spanxsmooth compression, this one-and-done outfit is a unicorn of travel-friendly pieces, offering all-day comfort in one singular silhouette that’s just as easy to style under a cardigan, zip-up, or jacket.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Shoppers agree the set feels ultra-soft.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Starbucks has mitigated its risk in China by forming a joint venture with investment firm Boyu Capital.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
31 Dec. 2025
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Crews also mitigated a small fuel leak from the aircraft after the crash, firefighters said.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
24 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Daou’s husband, Alain – who is also disabled and uses a wheelchair – removed the item’s tags and stayed behind to pay for it.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
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Last year, she was moved to a prison hundreds of miles from her disabled mother, who is seriously ill and scheduled to undergo brain surgery this spring.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To prevent over-drying, the formula is buffered with shea butter for moisture, while peppermint oil delivers a cooling, calming effect.—
Allure,
Allure,
18 Dec. 2025
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The study of climate change refugia – places that are buffered from the worst effects of global warming – has grown rapidly in recent years.—
Diana Stralberg,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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