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
Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The breakdown of these traditional promotional barriers has led to a softening of the hard-line broadcast deals that previously meant Star Boxer A couldn’t take on Star Boxer B simply because each fought on different platforms.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
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
The warmth and steam from the hot glass helps speed along the softening process.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Speaking in New York, the central bank policymaker noted risks to both higher inflation and a softening labor market that are keeping officials on their toes.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Venus enters Libra, her home sign, on October 13, softening interpersonal tension and bringing a wave of aesthetic, romantic, and emotional harmony.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
Add to that the fact that domestic travel is on the rise, thanks in part to softening international air demand amid global uncertainty, and a concern among some travelers over anti-American sentiment abroad, road trips hold new appeal.
—Stacey Lastoe, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
Because the broad thrust of Powell’s speech contained worries about the softening labor market, which implies the Fed will stay on its rate-cutting path in the near term.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
For a girl like me who is bold in essence but soft on the inside, not drawing brows brings my tenderness out by softening my features.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
That suggests that some wealthier voters, who may be less directly exposed to day-to-day cost pressures than middle- and working-class households, are softening their criticism on the issue most central to the broader public's economic anxiety.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Cessna said the 6,756-yard course continues to evolve in subtle ways, softening certain parts for higher-handicap golfers, while ratcheting up the challenges elsewhere.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The report indicates an overall softening of demand, which is leading to easing pressure on asking rents, including for shopping center space specifically.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
The breakdown of these traditional promotional barriers has led to a softening of the hard-line broadcast deals that previously meant Star Boxer A couldn’t take on Star Boxer B simply because each fought on different platforms.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
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
The warmth and steam from the hot glass helps speed along the softening process.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
Nozawa approached the decor with the goal of softening the architecture's hard lines and surfaces, while channeling the color palette of the building materials.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
Speaking in New York, the central bank policymaker noted risks to both higher inflation and a softening labor market that are keeping officials on their toes.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Venus enters Libra, her home sign, on October 13, softening interpersonal tension and bringing a wave of aesthetic, romantic, and emotional harmony.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025
Add to that the fact that domestic travel is on the rise, thanks in part to softening international air demand amid global uncertainty, and a concern among some travelers over anti-American sentiment abroad, road trips hold new appeal.
—Stacey Lastoe, AFAR Media, 29 Sep. 2025
Because the broad thrust of Powell’s speech contained worries about the softening labor market, which implies the Fed will stay on its rate-cutting path in the near term.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
For a girl like me who is bold in essence but soft on the inside, not drawing brows brings my tenderness out by softening my features.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
That suggests that some wealthier voters, who may be less directly exposed to day-to-day cost pressures than middle- and working-class households, are softening their criticism on the issue most central to the broader public's economic anxiety.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Cessna said the 6,756-yard course continues to evolve in subtle ways, softening certain parts for higher-handicap golfers, while ratcheting up the challenges elsewhere.
—Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softening
Verb
-
If the economy is not weakening, but strengthening, the outlook for inflation could tilt higher.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Equal-weight consumer discretionary has been under a bit of pressure, with restaurant and travel names weakening, and is now clearly underperforming the broad market on a one-year basis.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Aside from the compelling morality of alleviating human suffering, this aid can provide a bulwark against foreign manipulation, the emergence of terrorist havens, the growth of black markets, and other security threats that arise from chronic underdevelopment and economic struggle.—
Don Graves,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Sep. 2025
-
In Johansson’s case, her leather coat stands in contrast to her satin pants, alleviating some of the tension between the two competing shades.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
24 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
-
Judge Subramanian allowed five of Combs’ attorneys to argue for a lenient sentence on his behalf in addition to the character witness statements.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Both the music mogul's supporters and detractors have sent letters to the judge urging either a more lenient or harsher sentence.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Finally, too much nitrogen fertilizer can encourage shoot and leaf development at the expense of flowering.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Since then, the prospects for young biographers have improved substantially, and a trio of books published this fall is evidence of the genre’s new flowering.—
Megan Marshall
September 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The quarter wasn't perfect, and there's still a lot of work needed to get done to fix China, the Converse brand and its digital business, in addition to mitigating tariffs.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In both cases, the collaboration was facilitated by the Agritech Institute for Small Farms, an organization working to increase access to advanced technology that can help small farms stay in business while mitigating climate change.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This merciful act of sportsmanship came a month before Stewart’s tragic death on a chartered jet.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
-
May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving Savior who suffered and died for Charlie.—
Amanda Castro
Gabe Whisnant
Anna Commander
Toby Meyjes
Shane Croucher
John Feng
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Others are digging the W’s faster pace and perimeter evolution.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Looking ahead, Ralph Lauren has signaled that such work is an ongoing evolution, sharing plans to detail the next chapter of its Timeless by Design strategy in early 2026—built on the progress and strategic recalibrations outlined in this year’s report.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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