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
That initial white chocolate softens into something creamier and woodier as the hours pass.
—
Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and softens the cervix to prepare the body for expulsion.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
From spring to autumn, terraces and cafés spill into the open air, and the pace of life softens as evenings stretch long and warm.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
There's a noticeable drop off in picture quality at the minimum f/16 aperture; optical diffraction softens the output, and the lens scores in the low register for the sensor, around 2,400 lines.
—PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
This gradual recalibration softens the circadian shock without majorly disrupting your day-to-day life.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The result is a labor supply shock that economists say is constraining hiring, piling on pressure even as demand softens simultaneously.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Upgrade your shower with a vitamin C showerhead that softens water, filters out impurities and fills your bathroom with a soothing citrus aroma to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
This is seen in conditions such as rickets, which softens and weakens the bones, often seen in children.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Oct. 2025
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and softens the cervix to prepare the body for expulsion.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
From spring to autumn, terraces and cafés spill into the open air, and the pace of life softens as evenings stretch long and warm.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
There's a noticeable drop off in picture quality at the minimum f/16 aperture; optical diffraction softens the output, and the lens scores in the low register for the sensor, around 2,400 lines.
—PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
This gradual recalibration softens the circadian shock without majorly disrupting your day-to-day life.
—Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The result is a labor supply shock that economists say is constraining hiring, piling on pressure even as demand softens simultaneously.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Upgrade your shower with a vitamin C showerhead that softens water, filters out impurities and fills your bathroom with a soothing citrus aroma to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
—Nora Colomer
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
This is seen in conditions such as rickets, which softens and weakens the bones, often seen in children.
—Anthea Levi, Health, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
30 Sep. 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
-
Pivetta’s strikeout knack mitigates the effects of ballpark dimensions, but his fly ball rate is tied for first in MLB at 26 percent above league average, and Wrigley Field tends to play smaller than Petco Park.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
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Smart screening mitigates these risks while actively building a workforce equipped for tomorrow’s challenges.—
Kenneth Coats,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If hosting partly in the living room, place cushions around the coffee table for easy dipping—or a game night following the food.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This high level of contract coverage provides strong earnings visibility and cushions the company against short-term freight rate volatility.—
Ankita Dhawan,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This deep tissue massage relieves tension in my head, neck, and shoulders without any effort.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 Sep. 2025
-
This mechanism decreases the effect of prostaglandins and relieves pain and inflammation.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Packed with squalane, coconut, and avocado oil, the product restores moisture and eases discomfort.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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Many people claim that dark chocolate eases the pain, and studies support these claims.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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