sweetening

noun

Synonyms of sweeteningnext
: something that sweetens

Examples of sweetening in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The study aimed to take a closer look at the fruit's peel and pulp rather than just the sweetening compounds typically extracted for commercial use. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026 But the sweetening of the story and the effacing of its details suggest unease and ambivalence about its personal aspects. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024 Sugar levels are similar across the category; the real differentiators are fiber and what’s doing the sweetening. Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026 The most inexcusable of these mandates in recent times was Springfield’s sweetening of pension benefits for certain police and firefighters in Chicago in 2025. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweetening

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweetening was in 1819

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sweetening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetening. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

sweetening

noun
sweet·​en·​ing
1
: the act or process of making sweet
2
: something that sweetens
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!