soften

verb

ˈsȯ-fən How to pronounce soften (audio)
Definition of softennext
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

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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

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 soften Even with used vehicle prices softening slightly, high borrowing costs keep monthly payments out of reach for many prospective buyers. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Morton kosher salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8–10 minutes. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 Scott’s approach to prints was very much present, but softened in a way that felt approachable (even for someone like me who doesn’t typically dabble too much in color or print). — Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026 The peptide and ceramide complex also doubles down on hydration while plumping the skin and softening the appearance of fine lines around the eyes. — Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
  1. weaken
  2. alleviate
  3. mitigate
  4. temper
  5. buffer
  6. cushion
Verb
  • Once Isaias comes ashore, it is expected to weaken until it is downgraded to a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, the hurricane center said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Last but certainly not least, there’s the focus on communicating local relevancy as a differentiator without weakening brand equity and DNA.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • An energy truce between Ukraine and Russia could help to alleviate the oil and gas crunch ahead of winter.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The Waleses support various causes and organizations, including those working to prevent and alleviate homelessness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • The judge also weighed mitigating factors, including that Molloy was experiencing difficult personal circumstances, stopped of his own volition and had shown genuine remorse.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Gowanus is hardly the only postindustrial New York neighborhood rife with toxic waste — in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the extent of toxic contamination is still being uncovered and mitigated in an ad hoc fashion.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • Nothing Fielder discovers can top what’s already widely known, so his observations inevitably temper her public image.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Room for Disagreement Collins has opposed Trump on upwards of a half-dozen major initiatives and worked behind the scenes to temper him on multiple other occasions.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of temper
Verb
  • Air pockets trapped between overlapping leaves moderate the soil temperature and slow heat transfer, buffering against the freeze-thaw cycles that heave soil, fracture plant roots and expose beneficial soil microbes to lethal cold.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The footpad cannot extract energy from chemically inert surfaces such as plastic, glass, soil, or organic tissue, prompting the team to add a small onboard supercapacitor to buffer power across dead zones.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • While the surge caused some companies to cut workers’ hours, Eric Hauge, Home Line’s co-executive director, said a combination of government housing funds and mutual aid programs likely helped cushion their personal finances.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators believe Ramirez tightly embraced her daughter during the fall, likely cushioning the baby from the impact, ABC7 NY reported.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of cushion

Browse Nearby Words

soft drinks
soften
softened
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Cite this Entry

“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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