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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of soften
These pulses fracture and soften the rock, allowing drilling to proceed much faster while significantly extending drill bit life.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — China’s consumer spending slowdown persisted in June, with growth during one of the country’s largest online shopping festivals weakening sharply from a year earlier.
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All three of those protagonists have been weakened in their roles by what has gone on.
Verb
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The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill on June 23 seeking to alleviate a growing housing crisis by streamlining construction regulations, encouraging local innovation, and limiting investor purchases of homes, among other steps.
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According to the European Commission, the duty-free de minimis exemption was introduced in order to alleviate administrative burdens for customs authorities and businesses, but the digitalization of customs procedures has ameliorated that issue.
Verb
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While the care tax in the workplace largely falling on women’s shoulders is a systemic and a bias issue, there are some steps both individuals and organizations can take to help mitigate this trend.
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In handing down the verdict, the judges said his actions ran counter to Indonesia’s anti-graft efforts and were carried out systematically, while noting as a mitigating factor that the former minister had no prior criminal conviction.
Verb
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Iraq ultimately didn’t score a goal against Senegal but that did not temper the passion shown by the country’s fans.
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While most fans and pundits view Brazil as the clear favorite in Friday’s game against Haiti, the team’s coach and one of its star players sought to temper those expectations.
Verb
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Strong coastal upwelling — which brings cool, nutrient-rich water to the surface — could help buffer parts of the West Coast from the worst impacts, according to NOAA Fisheries.
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Why your streaming keeps buffering Internet service providers handle enormous amounts of traffic.
Verb
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China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
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But the fact is, Chris Drury wanted to make a big addition to expedite the process and cushion the blow of losing so much scoring talent.
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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