sweetened; sweetening
ˈswē-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈswēt-niŋ
1
: to make sweet
2
: to soften the mood or attitude of
3
: to make less painful or trying
4
: to free from a harmful or undesirable quality or substance
especially
: to remove sulfur compounds from
sweeten natural gas
5
: to make more valuable or attractive
sweeten the deal
: such as
a
: to increase (a pot not won on the previous deal) by anteing prior to another deal
b
: to place additional securities as collateral for (a loan)
: to become sweet
Examples of sweeten in a Sentence
He sweetened his cereal a little.
He sweetened the deal with a large signing bonus.
Recent Examples on the Web
Each room has an ocean view plus a generous balcony to enjoy it from—many with hot tubs and daybeds to sweeten the deal.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Meats are juicy and tender; vegetables are caramelized and subtly sweetened.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
What To Know Texas will prohibit purchases of candy and sweetened drinks with SNAP effective April 1, 2026, following a 2025 state law and a federal waiver approval.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Starting in February 2028, SNAP in Nevada will no longer pay for candy and sugar-sweetened beverages.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweeten
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Meats are juicy and tender; vegetables are caramelized and subtly sweetened.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
What To Know Texas will prohibit purchases of candy and sweetened drinks with SNAP effective April 1, 2026, following a 2025 state law and a federal waiver approval.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Starting in February 2028, SNAP in Nevada will no longer pay for candy and sugar-sweetened beverages.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sweeten
Cite this Entry
“Sweeten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweeten. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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