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
Soaking sunflower seeds before planting can help with germination as this method softens the naturally hard outer layer of the seed.
—
Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
That, with a lime-wash plaster on accent walls, breathes and softens the acoustics of a small footprint.
—Amy Kunst, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Baby pink softens graphic staples like black, white, and deep burgundy, lending them a lighter feel.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The famous voice occasionally softens into a murmur.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The chart has improved, ETF inflows have returned, and the macro backdrop is starting to accommodate as the dollar softens and markets respond to easing geopolitical stress.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 6 May 2026
As if the acquisitions of veterans Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks didn’t signal EVP/GM Howie Roseman’s intent to move on from Brown – likely next month, when the salary cap softens the team’s contractual hit – then certainly the trade up for Makai Lemon in Round 1 of the draft did.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Humor softens the various blows that Benj is subjected to without undermining their impact.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 11 May 2026
That, with a lime-wash plaster on accent walls, breathes and softens the acoustics of a small footprint.
—Amy Kunst, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Baby pink softens graphic staples like black, white, and deep burgundy, lending them a lighter feel.
—Christina Holevas, Vogue, 7 May 2026
The famous voice occasionally softens into a murmur.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
The chart has improved, ETF inflows have returned, and the macro backdrop is starting to accommodate as the dollar softens and markets respond to easing geopolitical stress.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 6 May 2026
As if the acquisitions of veterans Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks didn’t signal EVP/GM Howie Roseman’s intent to move on from Brown – likely next month, when the salary cap softens the team’s contractual hit – then certainly the trade up for Makai Lemon in Round 1 of the draft did.
—Jim Reineking, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Humor softens the various blows that Benj is subjected to without undermining their impact.
—David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.
—ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
But the weakening of that regime weakens the proxies as well.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 May 2026
-
Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club, said the report weakens the case for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts because the labor market remains stable.—
Alexa LoMonaco,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Seasoned party-planners say that striving to create meaningful interactions instead of for perfection alleviates some of the stress of hosting.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Accessible, affordable childcare alleviates poverty, prevents homelessness, improves employer productivity and retention, increases the tax base, supports small businesses and keeps young families in our communities.—
Susan Ellenberg,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Petti Restaurant mitigates this by covering the containers in mud, creating a striking building that stays a little cooler in India's intense heat.—
Adam Williams
April 24,
New Atlas,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Yet the crisis arrives at a time when the helium market has been awash in surplus, which mitigates the war’s immediate effect.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Thankfully, these kitchen mats offer ample support without compromising on style, as they’re made from dense memory foam that cushions your feet while reducing pressure on your back and joints.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
Shoppers are raving about this $7 kneeling pad that cushions aging knees against hard, damp, and dirty ground.—
Jill Layton,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This measure also relieves pressure on the broader state budget by leaving more funds available for priorities like Medicaid, behavioral health, infrastructure, and public safety.—
Kevin Vick,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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The programming is designed for all fitness levels and also relieves tension, reduces stress and supports hormonal and metabolic health.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 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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During non-REM sleep, the accelerator surges and the brake eases off.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
-
Once the performers appear, slinking in from the sides of the stage, the show firmly takes shape and eases smoothly from one episode from the Gospels to the next.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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