Synonyms of softening

softening 1 of 3

adjective

as in emollient

Related Words

• emollient
• lenient
• merciful
• easy
• compassionate
• buffering
• cushioning
• smooth
• sleek
• slick
• calm
• mild
• gentle
• clement
• soothing
• quiet
• tranquil
• serene
• peaceful
• light
• placid
• benign
• pacific
• soft
• mellow
• bland
• tender
• balmy
• delicate
• nonabrasive

Dissimilar Words

• hard
• harsh
• caustic
• rough
• coarse
• powerful
• severe
• abrasive
• intense
• stern
• scathing
• fierce
• strong
• exquisite
• violent
• forceful
• forcible
• savage
• ungentle
• irritating
• rugged
• stiff
• grim
• roughened
• gruff
• oppressive
• rude
• roughening
• pitiless
• abrading
• tyrannical
• heavy-handed

softening

2 of 3

noun

as in mellowing

Related Words

• mellowing
• flowering
• evolution
• blossoming
• flourishing
• maturing
• maturation
• ripening
• expansion
• growth
• evolvement
• development
• progression
• maturity
• coming-of-age

Dissimilar Words

• deterioration
• declining
• decline
• decay
• degeneration
• fading
• decadence
• decaying
• wilting
• descent
• declension
• waning
• withering
• death
• end
• exit
• shriveling
• expiration
• demise
• dying
• decease
• perishing
• ebbing
• regression
• reversion
• expiry
• retrogression
• expiring

softening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of soften

1

as in weakening

to diminish the physical strength of

three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weakening
• wasting
• hurting
• tiring
• exhausting
• sapping
• damaging
• debilitating
• injuring
• enervating
• paralyzing
• enfeebling
• crippling
• devitalizing
• impairing
• depleting
• disabling
• etiolating
• prostrating
• depressing
• incapacitating
• harming
• impoverishing
• grinding (down)
• hamstringing
• laying up
• invaliding
• washing out
• wearing out
• wearing down
• unmanning
• breaking down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strengthening
• fortifying
• recruiting
• energizing
• invigorating
• hardening
• rejuvenating
• beefing (up)
• vitalizing
• seasoning
• toughening

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

• alleviating
• tempering
• mitigating
• cushioning
• buffering
• easing
• relieving
• gentling
• dulling
• modulating
• moderating
• dampening
• deadening
• baffling
• allaying
• lightening
• obtunding
• assuaging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• intensifying
• sharpening
• heightening

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of softening

Noun

Then over the weekend, Lille struck a deal for Dutch side Feyenoord’s striker Ayase Ueda, which led to a softening of their stance regarding Fernandez-Pardo’s availability. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026

The legendary treatment may just be as famous as Oprah herself for its ultra-hydrating, softening, lifting, and glow-boosting effect. — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 2 Aug. 2026

There is no imperative on their part to do anything with rates immediately, and the softening in the pace of job growth suggests that rate hikes are very unlikely to be necessary this year. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 July 2026

These colors draw inspiration from the natural softening of hues often associated with beachy, coastal towns. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026

Sure enough, since Lalas returned from Seattle, there seems to have been a softening. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 28 June 2026

Washing, softening, drying, and stabilizing all demand significant water, energy, heat, and chemicals. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 25 June 2026

One seasoning avenue is marinating meats, an age-old softening and flavoring technique that still works like magic. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 16 June 2026

Its softening of formality, without losing out on service or gastronomy. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Verb

Even as Democrats target his Virginia district to capitalize on a favorable 2026 environment, McGuire is doing the opposite of Republicans in some competitive races, who are softening their ties to Trump. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

This all lends itself to a softening market for fashion and apparel — even the most loyal customers are pulling back. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026

Our wine ages for a full year in French oak, where the wood’s precise porosity allows just the right exchange with oxygen — softening the wine, concentrating its aromas and flavours, building complexity no machine can replicate. — Peter Hahn, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026

The women supposedly work more in caretaker jobs like teaching and healthcare, softening their views toward the least of us. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Creamy sandalwood is the star here, with cinnamon adding warmth and ylang-ylang softening things up. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

The state has also benefitted by the absence of hurricanes making landfall in 2025 and so far this year, which officials have said allows some softening in homeowners insurance prices and growth in new carriers. — Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

The Sagittarius Moon trines Chiron in your partnership zone, softening the instinct to package every feeling so perfectly that nobody could possibly object. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

China's oil import diet in turn helped ease global demand, softening the upward price effects for the United States, Europe and beyond. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026