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
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
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 1-2 minutes to create steam that softens grime.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
Pricing algorithms monitor purchase velocity, social media signals, search traffic, and resale market data, adjusting ticket prices upward during periods of high demand and downward — though less reliably — when demand softens.
—Corey Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Prices that can move tend to fall faster when demand softens.
—Hemant K. Bhargava, Boston Herald, 23 May 2026
Easy, breezy, and resort-ready, this strapless linen maxi dress softens with every wear.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
That led to a revision in April that softens the rules’ impact — most obviously on refiners who have been threatening to leave California — but environmental groups are very critical.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
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
Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for 1-2 minutes to create steam that softens grime.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
Pricing algorithms monitor purchase velocity, social media signals, search traffic, and resale market data, adjusting ticket prices upward during periods of high demand and downward — though less reliably — when demand softens.
—Corey Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Prices that can move tend to fall faster when demand softens.
—Hemant K. Bhargava, Boston Herald, 23 May 2026
Easy, breezy, and resort-ready, this strapless linen maxi dress softens with every wear.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
That led to a revision in April that softens the rules’ impact — most obviously on refiners who have been threatening to leave California — but environmental groups are very critical.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softens
Verb
-
Subtract what weakens the system.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Teams evolve at different speeds, innovation concentrates among a small subset of employees, and trust across the organization weakens.—
Matt Rosenbaum,
Fortune,
29 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
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
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
-
Best Outdoor Decor Deals Shop Memorial Day decor deals for every outdoor space, from extra-plush patio chair cushions to a stylish outdoor area rug that’s made with weather-resistant materials and safe to use in the rain.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Sanchez has not been immune to errors, but his shot-stopping has been key to Chelsea and Liam Rosenior’s exit relieves some of the questions about his ability on the ball.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The hope is that the device relieves enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover.—
Thomas Adamson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
This helps create a barrier of warmer air that buffers the foliage against the cold.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The Mandarin Grand Rooms perch between the 30th and 36th floors like a tranquil retreat in the sky; the frenetic financial district eases down below and, on cloudless days, Mount Fuji glistens in the distance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softens. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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