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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of soften
These pulses fracture and soften the rock, allowing drilling to proceed much faster while significantly extending drill bit life.
—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 June 2026
Remove dough strips from freezer; if too stiff to be workable, let stand at room temperature until malleable and softened slightly but still very cold.
—
ABC News,
29 June 2026
Our backyards become little restaurants, strung with lights and softened with linen tablecloths, and our rooftops become cocktail parties and dance halls.
—
Jamila Robinson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 June 2026
If mixture softens after chilling, re-beat the mixture with an electric mixer or a wire whisk before serving.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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The flow of dark traffic is one of the factors that helped explain why oil markets had weakened significantly by early June, together with a surge in exports from the US and pullback in buying by China.
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But as several surveys have consistently indicated, optimism about our country's outlook has undeniably weakened.
Verb
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The shipments meant Adnoc was able to take greater advantage of surging oil prices earlier in the war, and helped alleviate the impact of the broader closure of the strait on global supplies.
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This is a critical time in history to create sustainable prevention and optimization, not simply alleviate symptoms.
Verb
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While the care tax in the workplace largely falling on women’s shoulders is a systemic and a bias issue, there are some steps both individuals and organizations can take to help mitigate this trend.
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In handing down the verdict, the judges said his actions ran counter to Indonesia’s anti-graft efforts and were carried out systematically, while noting as a mitigating factor that the former minister had no prior criminal conviction.
Verb
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Miranda Priestly, the no-nonsense visionary, pushes for excellence and learns to temper her high standards with a more collaborative outlook.
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Iraq ultimately didn’t score a goal against Senegal but that did not temper the passion shown by the country’s fans.
Verb
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Strong coastal upwelling — which brings cool, nutrient-rich water to the surface — could help buffer parts of the West Coast from the worst impacts, according to NOAA Fisheries.
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Why your streaming keeps buffering Internet service providers handle enormous amounts of traffic.
Verb
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China has helped cushion the global oil shock, seen its clean energy tech exports surge and framed the war in Iran as another example in which Chinese leadership could supersede the US in ending global conflicts.
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But the fact is, Chris Drury wanted to make a big addition to expedite the process and cushion the blow of losing so much scoring talent.
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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