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

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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 Nike had been using Bugs Bunny in a series of commercials starring Michael Jordan as a means of softening the basketball legend’s intense on-court image and marketing his Air Jordans to families. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026 However, CoreWeave, which buys and rents out graphics processors from Nvidia and other chipmakers, hiked prices across its inventory by 25% in July to soften the impact of rising GPU costs on its margins, per Ramnani. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026 With no score, the film’s vivid sound design of billowing foliage, creaky doors and floorboards, creates an austere ambience that softens with quiet feeling as the contours of the family’s troubles are gradually filled out. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 Cook, stirring often, until rice is softened and heated through, about 5 minutes. — Nick Wong, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 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
  • Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • He was appointed as a special advisor for water infrastructure after last year’s rupture and prepared a report for the government on improvements to alleviate the island’s water problems.
    — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But the Cloaca Maxima was primarily designed to drain marshland and alleviate flooding.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of alleviate
Verb
  • Though the threat of an explosion was mitigated in early June, cleanup didn't begin until the very end of the month.
    — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Under current law, the President has the flexibility to order a limited drawdown, releasing up to 30 million barrels over a 60-day period, to mitigate sudden supply shocks without declaring a full-scale national emergency.
    — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mitigate
Verb
  • The richest division in the sport might be the strongest, but financial rules, now both domestic and foreign, will do little to temper the advantage of the highest-earners.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Heat and drought were destroying the measures meant to temper them.
    — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of temper
Verb
  • Context can be diagnosed, buffered, and in many cases reshaped.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Remittances, for example, played a major role in buffering poor countries from the dire economic consequences of the COVID pandemic.
    — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of buffer
Verb
  • Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams still haven’t practiced and running backs have had a revolving door to the trainer’s room, while the loss of receiver Ricky Pearsall was cushioned by the availability of old friend Deebo Samuel.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The shoe’s full-length visible Max Air was among Nike’s top cushioning setups of the era and the roster of players who wore the model are a testament to its performance abilities.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of cushion

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soften
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Cite this Entry

“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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