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
Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are bright green and softened, 6 to 8 minutes.
—
Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
If a total home water softening system is out of reach, adding one-half cup of powdered borax to the wash cycle will help improve the softness of your clothes.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
Trump, who closely watches opinion polls, removed controversial Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and began softening his message.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Prepared Frozen Foods Dumplings and gyoza are typically flash-frozen after shaping and should be cooked straight from frozen; thawing softens the wrappers and compromises texture.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
If a total home water softening system is out of reach, adding one-half cup of powdered borax to the wash cycle will help improve the softness of your clothes.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
Trump, who closely watches opinion polls, removed controversial Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and began softening his message.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Prepared Frozen Foods Dumplings and gyoza are typically flash-frozen after shaping and should be cooked straight from frozen; thawing softens the wrappers and compromises texture.
—Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Investors don’t want to inadvertently cheer on weakening job growth that could negatively impact consumer spending and economic growth, hurting stock prices.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The National Weather Service says the ridge keeping California dry since last month is beginning to weaken.—
Monica Garske,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Duren shoved Diabate’s face, and despite people on both sides trying to alleviate the tension, the usually mild-mannered Diabate kept trying to find Duren again.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Oil prices dipped on Tuesday on signs that talks between the US and Iran are alleviating the risk of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the US continues to ramp up pressure on Russia’s oil exports.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Deputies and members of the Coal Creek Canyon Fire Department will remain on the scene to mitigate hot spots and investigate the cause.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
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Robles decided one way to mitigate the damage would be to give away food to everyone who came to his restaurant for dinner Thursday.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of the slop-makers was trying to temper their message, too.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Feb. 2026
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Former Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino had pushed back against internal efforts to temper his aggressive approach months before two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But what if some species have evolved ways to buffer reproduction against environmental change?—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Adding probiotics to a meal may help buffer stomach acid, which OSF Healthcare gastroenterologist Omar Khokar, MD, explained allows more of the beneficial bacteria to reach the small bowel, maximizing their effects.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Arrivals and departures are weather dependent so cushion your flight home with an extra day or two.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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Look for cushioning in the shin, ankle, and toe box areas specifically, as this is where an unforgiving ski boot can batter, blister, and bruise you.—
Jonathan Thompson,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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