1
as in weakens
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Gently simmer until the garlic softens, about 20 minutes.
—
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
The fabric is washing machine safe and softens with age.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Cooking, in contrast, softens the flesh, improves flavor and reduces microbial risk.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
His conversation is astringent; his mordant wit softens into easy laughter.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Revenge softens some of Baron Frankenstein’s colder mannerisms into a more playful performance from Cushing; after escaping the gallows, the Baron hides his true identity and takes work at a hospital for the poor to access a supply of body parts.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Over the long simmer, all of that softens and flavors the chili.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
The hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Malaka Gharib, NPR, 25 Oct. 2025
The fabric is washing machine safe and softens with age.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Cooking, in contrast, softens the flesh, improves flavor and reduces microbial risk.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
His conversation is astringent; his mordant wit softens into easy laughter.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Revenge softens some of Baron Frankenstein’s colder mannerisms into a more playful performance from Cushing; after escaping the gallows, the Baron hides his true identity and takes work at a hospital for the poor to access a supply of body parts.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Over the long simmer, all of that softens and flavors the chili.
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
The hummingbirds are one of the few subjects that, briefly, softens him.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Chamomile softens the flame, vanilla sweetens the smoke, and the result is all loving, never strange… a total trance.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
Without light and air, the grass weakens and dies instead of going into winter dormancy.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
-
For many shrubs, pruning in the fall weakens the plant by spurring tender new growth that is vulnerable to coming frosts.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gaming laptops, especially those with larger screens, tend to be bulky, but the Slim alleviates some of that.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Sep. 2025
-
There are occasional flashbacks to his childhood, as well as moments out-of-time, where Kafka finds himself in the modern-day Czech republic, but none of this alleviates the pacing doldrums of a conventional biopic.—
Sam Bodrojan,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The research team claimed that these boundaries provide multiple benefits, including strain resistance that mitigates mechanochemical degradation, as demonstrated by operando full-field strain mapping.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The primary function of the single-seater X-59 is to test a new fuselage geometry that mitigates the sonic boom.—
David Szondy
October 28,
New Atlas,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down over time.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Litfun slippers are constructed with a thick memory foam footbed that gently cushions and supports your feet with each step, while the faux fur lining offers plenty of warmth for chilly days.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That thick sole relieves pressure and pain, especially pain associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
-
This deep tissue massage relieves tension in my head, neck, and shoulders without any effort.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rashee Rice offers another layer to this offense, which eases the burden on Mahomes’ legs and makes every other target better.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
According to local belief, sending a lantern upward helps cleanse a person’s spirit and eases their misfortunes, clearing the path for good luck in the coming year.—
Sarah Buder,
AFAR Media,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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