as in emollient
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
as in mellowing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in weakening
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 alleviating
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 softening
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
These colors draw inspiration from the natural softening of hues often associated with beachy, coastal towns.
—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 July 2026
Sure enough, since Lalas returned from Seattle, there seems to have been a softening.
—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Washing, softening, drying, and stabilizing all demand significant water, energy, heat, and chemicals.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
One seasoning avenue is marinating meats, an age-old softening and flavoring technique that still works like magic.
—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
Its softening of formality, without losing out on service or gastronomy.
—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
In offices increasingly focused on leadership presence and executive confidence, that constant softening can quietly undermine how women are perceived.
—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
Recent reporting has highlighted a softening in demand for destinations in eastern Europe closer to areas of geopolitical tension, with Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece spotlighted due to their comparative proximity to countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
—
Sarah Allard,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Most at-home versions last around one to four weeks, depending on hair type, product strength, and aftercare, with results gradually softening as the brow hairs return to their natural direction.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Conditions Friday just were ideal, with rain softening the greens during the week and Thursday overnight.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
Rather than softening the building’s severe style, the redesign leans into it, producing something that reads as serious architecture rather than simply a themed getaway.
—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The remaining ingredients are (brace yourself) anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, barrier-strengthening, moisture-retaining, pollution-protecting, and softening.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The right setting powder can make all the difference, helping keep makeup in place while softening shine and preventing a cakey finish.
—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
25 June 2026
At that hour, reflections ripple across ceilings and corridors, softening the intensity of the landscape outside.
—
Mona Basharat,
Architectural Digest,
25 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
Noun
There is no imperative on their part to do anything with rates immediately, and the softening in the pace of job growth suggests that rate hikes are very unlikely to be necessary this year.
—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
These colors draw inspiration from the natural softening of hues often associated with beachy, coastal towns.
—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 July 2026
Sure enough, since Lalas returned from Seattle, there seems to have been a softening.
—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
Washing, softening, drying, and stabilizing all demand significant water, energy, heat, and chemicals.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
One seasoning avenue is marinating meats, an age-old softening and flavoring technique that still works like magic.
—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
Its softening of formality, without losing out on service or gastronomy.
—
Lela London,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
In offices increasingly focused on leadership presence and executive confidence, that constant softening can quietly undermine how women are perceived.
—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
2 June 2026
Recent reporting has highlighted a softening in demand for destinations in eastern Europe closer to areas of geopolitical tension, with Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece spotlighted due to their comparative proximity to countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
—
Sarah Allard,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
And that's especially critical this July with inflation surging again, wages softening and higher borrowing costs expected to remain unchanged for the foreseeable future.
—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
Most at-home versions last around one to four weeks, depending on hair type, product strength, and aftercare, with results gradually softening as the brow hairs return to their natural direction.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
30 June 2026
Conditions Friday just were ideal, with rain softening the greens during the week and Thursday overnight.
—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
27 June 2026
Rather than softening the building’s severe style, the redesign leans into it, producing something that reads as serious architecture rather than simply a themed getaway.
—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The remaining ingredients are (brace yourself) anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, barrier-strengthening, moisture-retaining, pollution-protecting, and softening.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
26 June 2026
The right setting powder can make all the difference, helping keep makeup in place while softening shine and preventing a cakey finish.
—
Brigitt Earley,
Glamour,
25 June 2026
At that hour, reflections ripple across ceilings and corridors, softening the intensity of the landscape outside.
—
Mona Basharat,
Architectural Digest,
25 June 2026
In France, Le Pen and her allies are leading in polls by softening their apocalyptic rhetoric and instead promising big-government populist economic relief.
—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softening
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, emollient vitamin E and softening jojoba seed oil condition your natural nails, leaving them (and the skin around them) feeling softer and more hydrated.
-
The formula is infused with emollient fatty acids to help support the skin’s moisture barrier, while its semi-sheer finish ensures a soft glow—far from the heavy-handed bronzer looks of the mid-2010s.
Noun
-
Knobel uses Tennessee charcoal mellowing and hand‑toasted barrels to refine classic comfort flavors of Tennessee whiskey.
-
Sometimes girls have a way of mellowing guys out.
Verb
-
Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
-
Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
Verb
-
The owner and lessee will bear the responsibility of clearing the debris and alleviating some of the effects of the fire and its aftermath, Moore said, including looking for ways to mitigate debris flowing out of the warehouse, and the smell emitted by the rotting food.
-
So, resources like financial planning, credit building and debt management assistance can potentially unlock additional productivity by alleviating employee financial stress.
Adjective
-
There was a credible argument for being more lenient, but also one for dismissing the striker.
-
One of the features of this World Cup has been the desire of FIFA officials, under the direction of former World Cup final referee Pierluigi Collina, to be lenient in games and allow matches to flow without excessive disruption.
Noun
-
Plenty of plants need a reprieve from summer afternoon heat and humidity but still require a certain number of hours of full sun for healthy growth and flowering.
-
Hang orchids from trees and feed every other week for best growth and flowering.
Verb
-
This approach is crucial for mitigating downsides and enhancing the benefits of AI for societal mental well-being.
-
At worst, these mitigating factors would knock two-thirds off any improvement.
Adjective
-
Just when a dreadful day was approaching a merciful end, the chants from the remaining crowd at Citi Field poked fun at the New York Mets’ mess in a way boos cannot match with ridicule.
-
That painful night in Dallas now feels merciful, compared with what this Avs team just experienced.
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
