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
Bullnose's curved profile softens hard, linear edges often found in brickwork and concrete.
—
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
The serum in the mascara-like application gently softens and styles fly-aways in a pinch.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
The March full moon is commonly known as the Worm Moon and is named for the time of year when the ground softens to allow earthworms and burrowing beetles to emerge.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The powdered sugar lowers the freezing point and softens the result.
—Beth Kracklauer, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, sellers received about 97% of original list price on average, though that figure typically softens during winter months.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
The exterior is inky black and sharply defined against the trees; step inside and everything softens to creamy whites, pale oak, and warm wood tones that make the whole space feel sun-washed and easy.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
Infused with argan oil and linseed extract (and very little else), this oil immediately softens, detangles, conditions, and dials up shine—without ever feeling heavy or slick.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
The serum in the mascara-like application gently softens and styles fly-aways in a pinch.
—Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
The March full moon is commonly known as the Worm Moon and is named for the time of year when the ground softens to allow earthworms and burrowing beetles to emerge.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The powdered sugar lowers the freezing point and softens the result.
—Beth Kracklauer, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Over the past year, sellers received about 97% of original list price on average, though that figure typically softens during winter months.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 23, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
The exterior is inky black and sharply defined against the trees; step inside and everything softens to creamy whites, pale oak, and warm wood tones that make the whole space feel sun-washed and easy.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
Infused with argan oil and linseed extract (and very little else), this oil immediately softens, detangles, conditions, and dials up shine—without ever feeling heavy or slick.
—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
That means the batteries can keep the power on during prolonged severe weather events, peak summer demand, or just a particularly cloudy week that weakens solar power.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
First, the skull weakens and distorts sound waves.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Hunter trade alleviates the logjam in the backcourt, clears the way for rookie Nique Clifford to get more playing time and opens a roster spot for the Kings to convert rookie two-way center Dylan Cardwell to a standard NBA contract.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Similarly, having a closed kitchen alleviates some of the pressure of reducing visual clutter.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At least the quality of cabin materials—the complex leather stitching, the suppleness of the hide, the tasteful integration of carbon-fiber trim—lends the cabin a feeling of specialness that mitigates some of the tech frustrations.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Notably, although overpaying is still possible, the tipping system largely mitigates this issue since tip prices are rarely all that high.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Ascend Agency,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It’s made with a flexible and plush EVA midsole that cushions every step and absorbs shock keeping foot pain away.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The egg-crate foam promotes airflow and cushions pressure points, and the zip-off cover is machine-washable for quick refreshes.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This lotion relieves and helps prevent and relieve dry skin for 24 hours.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
And a rising salary cap relieves any pressure to dump cumbersome contracts.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This eases the pressure of constant perfection.—
Julianna Chen,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
One of Europe's deadliest migration corridors, where unclaimed bodies often wash up on shore, the passage to Crete is fueled by wars and instability across Africa and is growing busier even as pressure eases on other Mediterranean routes.—
LEFTERIS PITARAKIS,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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