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 leather softens beautifully with each wear, and the slim silhouette styles well with virtually everything—cropped trousers, slip skirts, even relaxed denim.
—
Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
Some retinol products tend to dry out the skin, but instead, this LilyAna option softens and moisturizes.
—Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 5 June 2026
The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, rose by 6,500 to 214,750.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
This softens their structure and creates the perfect environment for mold to grow.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
Due to its semi-transparency, the facade invites the shifting sky and the green hues of the surrounding forest canopy into the interior, creating an environment that softens the line between inside and out.
—Bridget Borgobello
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026
Back in April, Bieber debuted a vanilla French glaze manicure thats softens the sharp contrast of a typical French mani.
—Charley Ross, Glamour, 28 May 2026
When Venus shifts into Leo on June 13, the energy softens into something more social and community-oriented.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 6 June 2026
Some retinol products tend to dry out the skin, but instead, this LilyAna option softens and moisturizes.
—Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 5 June 2026
The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, rose by 6,500 to 214,750.
—Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
This softens their structure and creates the perfect environment for mold to grow.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
Due to its semi-transparency, the facade invites the shifting sky and the green hues of the surrounding forest canopy into the interior, creating an environment that softens the line between inside and out.
—Bridget Borgobello
may 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2026
Back in April, Bieber debuted a vanilla French glaze manicure thats softens the sharp contrast of a typical French mani.
—Charley Ross, Glamour, 28 May 2026
When Venus shifts into Leo on June 13, the energy softens into something more social and community-oriented.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
Restricting those channels weakens influence competitors have struggled to match.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
-
Iran’s government warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position, and those criticizing negotiators are taking aim at a national decision.—
Julia Frankel,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The American Red Cross alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing volunteers and donors.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Dec. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
A little understanding mitigates a lot of risk.—
Troy Holaday,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
Rebuilding the salt marshes increases the lagoon’s ability to capture carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas and driver of climate change, and mitigates the effects of rising sea levels.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Such discipline pays dividends when volatility compresses margins because efficiency cushions the blow.—
Arthur Azizov,
Forbes.com,
4 June 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,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
His termination for cause, a designation that relieves Michigan of the obligation to pay him, could lead to a breach of contract and defamation lawsuit.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Aerlang Mini Massage Gun This quiet and compact massage gun relieves aches, pains, and tensions on the go.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Friday’s selloff eases those worries a bit.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
-
There is no explanation that eases the pain, no statement that can fully capture the grief so many in our community are experiencing.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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