as in emollient
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in mellowing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in weakening
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 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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of softening
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
In offices increasingly focused on leadership presence and executive confidence, that constant softening can quietly undermine how women are perceived.
—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
According to a market analysis from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), supply chain adjustments and elevated shipping uncertainty kept time-sensitive freight demand steady despite the sequential softening of global trade indicators.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Recent reporting has highlighted a softening in demand for destinations in eastern Europe closer to areas of geopolitical tension, with Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece spotlighted due to their comparative proximity to countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
—
Sarah Allard,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Van Dyk at times shows his hand as the script reveals the gradual softening of the Khachaturians toward their guest.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Lithgow’s performance suggests without any softening of tone or characterization that Dahl’s deep well of feeling for the suffering of children is the source of his harsh condemnation of Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
But a softening of views on Cuba has not materialized despite that demographic transition.
—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Lisa Meierotto,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
The social media embargo was actually moved up by several days amid reports of the film’s opening weekend tracking softening, which just goes to show how much these reactions have become a reliable extension of marketing.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2026
How To Use Baking Soda In Laundry Below are the top ways that Rapinchuk suggests using baking soda in the laundry room for better, brighter results, from pre-treating stains to softening fabric.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
To descend the stairs into Marcel, the new French-continental restaurant on the lower level of the Breuer building, on Madison Avenue, is to watch a brutalist masterpiece surrender, with a kind of gracious compliance, to the softening influence of a great deal of money.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Combined with higher interest rates on pause (and the potential for them to be hiked higher later this year), softening wages and household debt at a record high, this week's news underscores the importance of storing your money in safe and profitable places.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Barrel aging introduces vanilla, baking spice, and oak while softening the spirit's brighter botanical edges.
—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Hilton cut his teeth in his native UK working in Conservative Party politics, where he was credited with softening the party’s image on issues like the environment.
—
Haley Parsley
june 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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
In offices increasingly focused on leadership presence and executive confidence, that constant softening can quietly undermine how women are perceived.
—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
According to a market analysis from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), supply chain adjustments and elevated shipping uncertainty kept time-sensitive freight demand steady despite the sequential softening of global trade indicators.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Recent reporting has highlighted a softening in demand for destinations in eastern Europe closer to areas of geopolitical tension, with Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece spotlighted due to their comparative proximity to countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
—
Sarah Allard,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Van Dyk at times shows his hand as the script reveals the gradual softening of the Khachaturians toward their guest.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Lithgow’s performance suggests without any softening of tone or characterization that Dahl’s deep well of feeling for the suffering of children is the source of his harsh condemnation of Israel’s actions in Lebanon.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
But a softening of views on Cuba has not materialized despite that demographic transition.
—
Sarah Moreno,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
National polling on the administration’s immigration policies tends to follow party lines, drawing Democrats’ disapproval and Republicans’ support, but recent polling suggests some softening among the latter.
—
Lisa Meierotto,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
The social media embargo was actually moved up by several days amid reports of the film’s opening weekend tracking softening, which just goes to show how much these reactions have become a reliable extension of marketing.
—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2026
How To Use Baking Soda In Laundry Below are the top ways that Rapinchuk suggests using baking soda in the laundry room for better, brighter results, from pre-treating stains to softening fabric.
—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
To descend the stairs into Marcel, the new French-continental restaurant on the lower level of the Breuer building, on Madison Avenue, is to watch a brutalist masterpiece surrender, with a kind of gracious compliance, to the softening influence of a great deal of money.
—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Combined with higher interest rates on pause (and the potential for them to be hiked higher later this year), softening wages and household debt at a record high, this week's news underscores the importance of storing your money in safe and profitable places.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Barrel aging introduces vanilla, baking spice, and oak while softening the spirit's brighter botanical edges.
—
Hudson Lindenberger,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Hilton cut his teeth in his native UK working in Conservative Party politics, where he was credited with softening the party’s image on issues like the environment.
—
Haley Parsley
june 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softening
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, emollient vitamin E and softening jojoba seed oil condition your natural nails, leaving them (and the skin around them) feeling softer and more hydrated.
-
Barrier cream launches this time of year are plentiful, but there’s one that’s really worth your attention: Bubble’s Soft Swerve Barrier Restore Balm, an intensely emollient moisturizer that coats your skin in a nourishing formula that rewards you with a soft, supple complexion over night.
Noun
-
Knobel uses Tennessee charcoal mellowing and hand‑toasted barrels to refine classic comfort flavors of Tennessee whiskey.
-
Sometimes girls have a way of mellowing guys out.
Verb
-
The hurricane-weakening effects of El Niño may be positive for property and casualty insurers in the Northern Hemisphere.
-
An unpopular war, a structurally sound economy, but maybe GDP weakening, unemployment strong, but consumer confidence weakening.
Verb
-
The owner and lessee will bear the responsibility of clearing the debris and alleviating some of the effects of the fire and its aftermath, Moore said, including looking for ways to mitigate debris flowing out of the warehouse, and the smell emitted by the rotting food.
-
So, resources like financial planning, credit building and debt management assistance can potentially unlock additional productivity by alleviating employee financial stress.
Adjective
-
For gardeners who have been slightly more lenient in their control efforts, this means that populations already present are now likely to become significantly more substantial, with a core breeding population already large to begin with.
-
But the lenient touch toward one of the game’s worst violations reflects a problem that’s only continuing to grow in the broader sports world.
Noun
-
Keep the covers on until the beginning of flowering.
-
Hydrangeas are classic flowering shrubs that offer an array of beautiful colors, flower forms, and sizes.
Verb
-
On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court vacated the death sentence and remanded the case for reconsideration over the trial court's handling of aggravating and mitigating factors in the case.
-
Successful deployment demands robust governance from inception, ensuring traceability and mitigating risks.
Adjective
-
That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.
-
As the sun began to peek over the hillside, offering a merciful burst of warmth, Alonso Abugattas called this year’s Trillium Trek to order.
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
