1
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alleviating
to lessen the shock of
had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in emollient
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in mellowing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of softening
Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That report throws some cold water on another inflation report that came out earlier in the week that showed some softening in consumer prices.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
The warmth and steam from the hot glass helps speed along the softening process.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
This stands in sharp contrast to struggling sectors like multifamily, which are contending with softening rents and oversupply in formerly high-growth markets.
—Andrew Denardo, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Historically, such easing cycles have correlated with gold price appreciation, as investors seek preservation of capital amid softening economic indicators.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Yes the packaging and scent are very pretty, but this gel-cream won our testers over for its wrinkle-softening effects.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Serving as a throughline for this 40mm model’s development are Genta’s signature, which led to the idea of his signature octagonal shape softening into the sensual curves of a cushion, leaving the ambiguity of a shape that appears round at first glance.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
The annual bitcoin gathering came amid Beijing’s softening stance on crypto and stablecoins.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Botox kicked in after about a week, softening my forehead lines and keeping my expressions natural.
—Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
This lightweight oil disappears into hair on contact, softening coarse strands, detangling knots, and taming frizz.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The softening of the labor market is a major factor weighing on the Federal Reserve, as the central bank’s chairman Jerome Powell indicated in his Jackson Hole address that rate cuts could be coming.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That report throws some cold water on another inflation report that came out earlier in the week that showed some softening in consumer prices.
—Lisa Kailai Han,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2025
The warmth and steam from the hot glass helps speed along the softening process.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
The economic environment remains foggy, with uncertainty around tariffs and a labor market that, while softening in some areas, remains remarkably resilient in others.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
This stands in sharp contrast to struggling sectors like multifamily, which are contending with softening rents and oversupply in formerly high-growth markets.
—Andrew Denardo, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Historically, such easing cycles have correlated with gold price appreciation, as investors seek preservation of capital amid softening economic indicators.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Yes the packaging and scent are very pretty, but this gel-cream won our testers over for its wrinkle-softening effects.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Serving as a throughline for this 40mm model’s development are Genta’s signature, which led to the idea of his signature octagonal shape softening into the sensual curves of a cushion, leaving the ambiguity of a shape that appears round at first glance.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
The annual bitcoin gathering came amid Beijing’s softening stance on crypto and stablecoins.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
The Botox kicked in after about a week, softening my forehead lines and keeping my expressions natural.
—Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
This lightweight oil disappears into hair on contact, softening coarse strands, detangling knots, and taming frizz.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softening
Verb
-
Then the hurricane continued on a more northward path around the islands and finally began weakening after powerful 145 mph winds tapered off.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Total job growth was revised lower by the largest amount in history, The revisions erased 911 thousand jobs over the full year period, adding to mounting concerns of a weakening labor market and fueling questions as to the reliability of monthly data being used to gauge employment.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Third, the letter writer and her family might want to consider engaging a geriatric care manager who could help them to identify supplementary services and connections in the local community that could go at least some way to alleviating her isolation.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Third, something the letter writer and her family might want to consider engaging a geriatric care manager who could help them to identify supplementary services and connections in the local community that could go at least some way to alleviating her isolation.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The formula is infused with emollient fatty acids to help support the skin’s moisture barrier, while its semi-sheer finish ensures a soft glow—far from the heavy-handed bronzer looks of the mid-2010s.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The British government will see a deal it as a vindication of Starmer’s emollient approach to Trump, which has avoided direct confrontation or criticism.—
Zeke Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Many of Joaquin's accusers decried his state-level plea deal with the California Attorney General's Office as too lenient.—
Luc Cohen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, attorneys and judges have overseen multiple lenient plea deals and case dismissals, while local prosecutors reviewed hundreds of active and resolved cases that Tran investigated.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The cool nights and crisp clear days of fall rejuvenate flowering annuals and perennials that may have languished in the heat of summer.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The rainfall in those months is critical for the flowering of the new crop.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Our favorites helped our razors glide smoothly across the skin for an ultra-close shave, while aloe vera and almond oil soothed, hydrated, and enhanced the skin’s appearance — mitigating irritation.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The move from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, the anger at how the board is handling the club and the controversy over concession tickets are some of the mitigating factors behind the discontent.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The 2025 season will last for only four more games, and the organization could have let this disappointing campaign come to a merciful end.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Founded in the mid-19th century as a grocery store in Greenwich Village, the bar retains a patina of its early years—the dim interior, wood walls, the merciful lack of thunka-thunk music.—
Harrison Hill,
AFAR Media,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
During a tour at Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters last October, staff described the evolution from a Chicago garage startup to a sprawling campus funded by donors in 2018.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Eldridge insists that this evolution isn’t hypothetical.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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