1
as in weakens
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 alleviates
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
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Recent Examples of softens
The formula includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, giving it a soothing, balm-like feel that softens lips overnight.
—
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
The suppleness of the band softens Williams’ tales of despair, transforming them into songs of solace, not outrage.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
When heated above about 99 °F, the polymer softens, allowing a magnetic field to stretch, bend, or twist it.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Jan. 2026
Amy Madrigan’s buttery blonde lob brightens her face and softens her face-framing grays.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
Warm minimalism, Bodron explains, builds on the intentionally edited foundation of traditional minimalism, then softens it through color selections, material choices and finishes.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Because your mind runs fast, choose calm music that slows your breathing and softens your pace.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
The 2024 Best of Beauty Award-winning Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan Serum still incorporates deep hydration that softens fine lines and facial folds, but now with even more dimension.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 17 Jan. 2026
Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026
The suppleness of the band softens Williams’ tales of despair, transforming them into songs of solace, not outrage.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
When heated above about 99 °F, the polymer softens, allowing a magnetic field to stretch, bend, or twist it.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Jan. 2026
Amy Madrigan’s buttery blonde lob brightens her face and softens her face-framing grays.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
Warm minimalism, Bodron explains, builds on the intentionally edited foundation of traditional minimalism, then softens it through color selections, material choices and finishes.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Because your mind runs fast, choose calm music that slows your breathing and softens your pace.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
The 2024 Best of Beauty Award-winning Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan Serum still incorporates deep hydration that softens fine lines and facial folds, but now with even more dimension.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
When CEOs treat financial advice as a substitute for judgment, leadership starts to erode, decisions slow down, and conviction weakens.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s focus on the Western Hemisphere — as a show of might that weakens China’s geostrategic influence, Nikkei wrote.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Similarly, having a closed kitchen alleviates some of the pressure of reducing visual clutter.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Unrivaled alleviates the need for that by allowing players to remain stateside in a competitive league.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Why Stock Pickers Win More With Multi-Asset Portfolios Market behaviors differ, but a diverse asset mix mitigates volatility.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Each unit’s weekly cleaning regimen includes completely emptying the waste with the vacuum truck’s suction wand, adding deodorizer that breaks down future waste and mitigates bad smells, scrubbing and disinfecting every surface inside the unit, and restocking paper goods.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.
Mickey Todiwala,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a healthy economy, the middle and working classes provide a floor of stable demand that cushions this volatility.—
Katica Roy,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
This structure cushions physical contact and detects impact forces in real time, improving safety during close human–robot interaction.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Plush cushioning on the insoles relieves tired feet during the day, making these comfortable enough to wear for hours.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This helps water flow as the ice melts and relieves pressure, reducing the risk of the pipe bursting.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The storm will taper off Sunday night as the storm responsible for the winter storm slowly eases northeast away from our area.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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As winter rain eases, the city fills with blossoms—cherry trees along Tom McCall Waterfront Park bloom in late March and early April, followed by tulips (the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in nearby Woodburn is a great detour) and roses (of course, don't miss the International Rose Test Garden).—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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