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 cleaning pro explains that the oil softens the adhesive in sticky messes, and the baking soda provides some gentle scrubbing ability.
—
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 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
Accountability softens and urgency fades.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The smoothing system, a blend of ingredients, softens and moisturizes the hair’s cuticle to deeply condition, while the amino acid blend helps prevent breakage and keeps the scalp moisturized.
—Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026
Moments later, the Moon’s contact with dreamy Neptune softens edges, encouraging us to listen from the heart.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
The reason that toum works better than fresh garlic is because toum is made by blending fresh garlic with olive oil until the garlic becomes suspended in thick, emulsified foam that softens the garlic’s sharp flavor.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 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
Accountability softens and urgency fades.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
The smoothing system, a blend of ingredients, softens and moisturizes the hair’s cuticle to deeply condition, while the amino acid blend helps prevent breakage and keeps the scalp moisturized.
—Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2026
Moments later, the Moon’s contact with dreamy Neptune softens edges, encouraging us to listen from the heart.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
The reason that toum works better than fresh garlic is because toum is made by blending fresh garlic with olive oil until the garlic becomes suspended in thick, emulsified foam that softens the garlic’s sharp flavor.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
Privacy advocates argue that any ambiguity around storage or deletion timelines weakens public confidence.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Sending young people far from home weakens support systems and makes outcomes worse.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 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
-
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
-
Schumaker said Sunday that health — and, more specifically, an alignment that best mitigates usage injuries for each individual over the course of a season — may ultimately drive the decision.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
15 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
-
As the heartache eases, memories often heal and illuminate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Chasteberry Tea Chasteberry tea eases PMS and boosts progesterone.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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