soften

verb

ˈsȯ-fən How to pronounce soften (audio)
Definition of softennext
1
as in to weaken
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 to alleviate
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of soften To keep things cozy, Jenny softened the space with an ottoman and pair of leather chairs. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 When physical aggression is directed at White players such as Cunningham or Caitlin Clark, commentators have repeatedly shown a willingness to search for explanations that soften the actions of the offending player. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 As the light dips behind the hills and Chianti’s color palette softens, life beyond the estate starts to feel quite distant. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026 In addition to Amazon’s Jassy altering his messaging on AI killing jobs, other high-profile CEOs have softened previous comments. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
  1. weaken
  2. alleviate
  3. mitigate
  4. temper
  5. buffer
  6. cushion
Verb
  • That makes the world a more dangerous place, where a mistake by just one actor could ignite a regional firestorm, with a US military weakened by Iran unable to ensure American security.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn’t done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts.
    — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Against the odds, Afghan women have built a tenacious resistance movement, inside and outside the country, that is working to alleviate conditions and provide opportunities, however limited, for women and girls.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore said the arrangement alleviates concerns about circular financing because third-party investors would provide most of the capital, while Nvidia would participate only to a limited extent.
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • In an effort to mitigate environmental impact, the factory will depend on water from a nearby reservoir rather than local groundwater, the website said.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The most effective approach combines technology and data with human expertise to mitigate risk at scale.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • Maybe someday, Roth will temper his empty-calories instincts and make more of a meal out of his twisted ideas.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As their rates are lower, that’s helped temper the Treasury’s costs.
    — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of temper
Verb
  • Remittances, for example, played a major role in buffering poor countries from the dire economic consequences of the COVID pandemic.
    — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Audio Snapshots can record up to 30 seconds and buffer for up to 15 seconds of retroactive recording.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • Stronger-than-expected income and payroll tax collections, running about $75 billion above the February baseline, have cushioned some of the blow.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The shoes also have cushioning that absorbs impact with each step.
    — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cushion

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soft drinks
soften
softened
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Cite this Entry

“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on soften

Nglish: Translation of soften for Spanish Speakers

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