as in emollient
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of softening
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
That's not a softening of standards.
—Brittany Murrey, Forbes.com, 20 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
Some recipes call for soaking bran in boiling or hot water to speed the grain’s softening, but liquid at any temperature works as well.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The brand’s Glossing Detangler has a fan club of its own (more than 2,000 people bought this treatment in the past month alone), thanks to its shine-boosting, softening, and heat-protectant formula.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 1 June 2026
But softening Republican support on specific policy matters — including top voter priorities, such as the economy — have begun raising questions among experts whether further erosion is possible.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
For years the Rosso was treated as the baby brother of the heavyweight Sagrantino di Montefalco, a way of softening that grape's formidable tannin by blending it with Sangiovese, and sometimes a little Merlot, into something more accessible.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Having difficulty softening your perspective?
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
None of this suggests that the regime is softening, however.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
In a softening insurance market, investors may want to focus less on headline EPS and more on whether management is actually allocating capital like owners.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 27 May 2026
This caused the alpha-molybdenum trioxide to buckle under the stress, while at the same time softening the silica underneath.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
But some hotel bookings appear to be softening.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Noun
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
That's not a softening of standards.
—Brittany Murrey, Forbes.com, 20 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
Some recipes call for soaking bran in boiling or hot water to speed the grain’s softening, but liquid at any temperature works as well.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The brand’s Glossing Detangler has a fan club of its own (more than 2,000 people bought this treatment in the past month alone), thanks to its shine-boosting, softening, and heat-protectant formula.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
With inflation surging, wages softening and borrowing costs high thanks to elevated interest rates, the incentive to protect this money is particularly strong now.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 1 June 2026
But softening Republican support on specific policy matters — including top voter priorities, such as the economy — have begun raising questions among experts whether further erosion is possible.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
For years the Rosso was treated as the baby brother of the heavyweight Sagrantino di Montefalco, a way of softening that grape's formidable tannin by blending it with Sangiovese, and sometimes a little Merlot, into something more accessible.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Having difficulty softening your perspective?
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
None of this suggests that the regime is softening, however.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
In a softening insurance market, investors may want to focus less on headline EPS and more on whether management is actually allocating capital like owners.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 27 May 2026
This caused the alpha-molybdenum trioxide to buckle under the stress, while at the same time softening the silica underneath.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026
But some hotel bookings appear to be softening.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 May 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.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2026
-
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.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Knobel uses Tennessee charcoal mellowing and hand‑toasted barrels to refine classic comfort flavors of Tennessee whiskey.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Sometimes girls have a way of mellowing guys out.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at the last minute despite being originally scheduled to play, further weakening the field.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 May 2026
-
Second, some worry that some of the financial safeguards and market disciplines developed after previous crises may be weakening.—
Robert Ginsburg,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Training also matters, as systems that generate excessive low-value alerts contribute to fatigue rather than alleviating it.—
Ethan Stone
June 3,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
-
The Center on Colfax recommends alleviating traffic by taking public transit, Veo scooters, or rideshare.—
Brian Sherrod,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Better to have no recall powers than overly lenient ones.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
Republicans argued his approach was too lenient, while Allred emphasized a combination of enforcement and immigration reform.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Bloom period varies by species, but many enjoy a long summer flowering season.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
Pruning after flowering can reduce disease pressure.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
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.—
Ashley Stimpson,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
What is known today as the USACE Fellows Program, is the evolution of a World War II workforce development initiative to build an ecosystem of civilian STEM experts to lead critical infrastructure projects.—
Brandi Bufford,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
That was founded in 2005 as an evolution of what was originally As Four.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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