as in weak
lacking bodily strength
the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in weakened
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tempered
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 softened
Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
Lightly grease paper with softened butter.
—Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Coming on midway into the second half, a few substitutes ran with the baton against a softened opponent.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Then scrape the softened wax away with a butterknife.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite softened rhetoric from White House officials, federal immigration enforcement continues unabated in the city with no sign of fundamental policy change.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 1 large shallot, thinly sliced into rings, and 8 garlic cloves, crushed, and cook, stirring often, until softened and light golden around the edges, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
What is offered in Nike’s turquoise sneaker is a softened, market-safe version of his legacy, stripped of its demands.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
The softened linen ruffle skirt is a standout for its beautiful drape, unique shade, and its thoughtful pleat keeps it more Provençal than shabby chic.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Continue to toss and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until cabbage is softened and slightly translucent.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And my emotional responses softened.
—Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
Kahn and Noguchi softened its edges to make concessions to the neighborhood, and there were enough supporters to fight the usual community pushback.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Eggplant parm comes lightly breaded, with thin planks of eggplant softened into a tender slab, and the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage tastes particularly vibrant thanks to a superb balancing act from white wine and garlic.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
Stidham apparently did not notice New England’s cornerback had softened his coverage, gaining prime position to make the sealing interception.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
It is reformulated, regulated, softened by time and law.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Add bell peppers and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Everything in this recipe is made with love, from the tomato sauce to the filling which is tenderly wrapped in the softened cabbage leaves.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
Lightly grease paper with softened butter.
—Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2026
Coming on midway into the second half, a few substitutes ran with the baton against a softened opponent.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Then scrape the softened wax away with a butterknife.
—Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
Despite softened rhetoric from White House officials, federal immigration enforcement continues unabated in the city with no sign of fundamental policy change.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Add 1 large shallot, thinly sliced into rings, and 8 garlic cloves, crushed, and cook, stirring often, until softened and light golden around the edges, 3–4 minutes.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
What is offered in Nike’s turquoise sneaker is a softened, market-safe version of his legacy, stripped of its demands.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
The softened linen ruffle skirt is a standout for its beautiful drape, unique shade, and its thoughtful pleat keeps it more Provençal than shabby chic.
—Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Today’s top stories Mayor Bass and the fires Bass wanted key findings in a report about the Los Angeles Fire Department’s shortcomings removed or softened, sources told The Times.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Continue to toss and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until cabbage is softened and slightly translucent.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
And my emotional responses softened.
—Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
Kahn and Noguchi softened its edges to make concessions to the neighborhood, and there were enough supporters to fight the usual community pushback.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 Feb. 2026
Eggplant parm comes lightly breaded, with thin planks of eggplant softened into a tender slab, and the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage tastes particularly vibrant thanks to a superb balancing act from white wine and garlic.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
Stidham apparently did not notice New England’s cornerback had softened his coverage, gaining prime position to make the sealing interception.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
It is reformulated, regulated, softened by time and law.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Add bell peppers and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
-
Bangladesh’s woes have not improved much since Hasina’s ouster, with high inflation and a weak taka currency combining to erode real incomes for ordinary households.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Pinterest posted disappointing fourth-quarter results and gave weak guidance for first-quarter sales.—
Liz Napolitano,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
New York — US stocks dropped Thursday, continuing a recent patch of volatility, as Wall Street grappled with persistent nerves about artificial intelligence and economic data showed the labor market weakened over the past two months.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lydia Romero strained to hear her husband’s feeble voice through the phone.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
That said, international filmmaking is in feeble shape, partly because of the jambalaya of international co-productions, partly because of the inroads of television aesthetics, and partly because of the cloistered aestheticism of self-conscious art-house cinema.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There appeared to be a lack of options in central midfield but the signing of Gomes and the emergence of Mateus Mane have alleviated that.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Rather than dismissing the case outright or barring the government from seeking the death penalty, prosecutors argued, the defense’s concerns can best be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case and ensuring Mangione’s rights are respected at trial.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Designers are now layering materials — combining sections of horizontal cedar fencing with tall, dense plantings like arborvitae or ornamental grasses—to create softer, more organic privacy screens.—
Rosehill Gardens,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Gap CashSoft Oversized Chunky Cardigan My daughters also loved this soft, chunky cardigan from Gap, available in multiple colors.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Isabelle’s mom, Karen, had a new baby with her second husband, but whatever fatigue that brought with it was mitigated by Karen’s chronic sense of outrage.—
Jen Wang,
Vogue,
6 Feb. 2026
-
With any other native vegetation, the county would work with Lennar to preserve it at Boca Lago — if that isn’t possible, it could be relocated or mitigated, said Deborah Drum, the county’s environmental resources management director.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program primarily helps tax filers with incomes below $69,000, those who are disabled and those who are not proficient in English.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Menasche believes the lot, which is only open overnight, is an ineffective offering, especially for disabled and low-income individuals who may not be able to afford the gas required to drive in and out every day.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mattering acted as a kind of protective shield that buffered against anxiety and depression.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Because retinoids can be drying, the formula is buffered with nourishing oils like squalane, olive, sunflower, linseed, rice bran, coconut, and grape seed to support the skin barrier.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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