sweetening

verb

Definition of sweeteningnext
present participle of sweeten
as in enhancing
to make more desirable we really want you to work for our company—what can we do to sweeten the job offer?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sweetening Instead of sweetening it, the relatives clamped a sugar cube between their incisors and loudly sucked the tea through it. — Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026 Linzer cookies are a sweet surprise of nutty shortbread cookies, jammy preserves, and a sweetening sprinkle of powdered sugar. — Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2025 Coffee giant Starbucks is looking to encourage its baristas and hourly workers to improve their sales and customer service by sweetening the pot with bigger financial perks. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026 Only sweetening the deal this year is the fact that her friend Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent is co-chairing the hosting committee. — Irene Kim, Vogue, 4 May 2026 Last year, Pritzker signed an onerous bill sweetening firefighter and police pensions that will cost Chicagoans tens of millions of dollars more annually without extra help from the state. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 Indiana lawmakers advanced a measure to require data center companies to fork over 1% of their sales tax exemption savings to local governments, sweetening the deal for local officials embroiled in the data center fights sweeping the state. — Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 3 Feb. 2026 Considering Ross has contributed millions to boost recent trades, sweetening the draft picks Miami got in return, why would the Dolphins even consider playing Westbrook-Ikhine another snap this season. — Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025 Without the match sweetening the deal, the argument for prioritizing retirement contributions over debt payoff weakens somewhat — though the tax deduction on traditional 401(k) contributions still has value. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sweetening
  1. enhancing
  2. improving
  3. ameliorating
Verb
  • This approach is crucial for mitigating downsides and enhancing the benefits of AI for societal mental well-being.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • In addition to its instant, complexion-enhancing tint, the formula contains skin care ingredients lauded for their smoothing, quenching properties.
    — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Definition of enhancing
Verb
  • Pogačar is only improving as a rider, a scary proposition for man with his extraordinary palmares.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • Higgins also says that improving resilience will mean changing the city’s building code to allow innovative new technology.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of improving
Verb
  • Skau warned that as attention turns towards ameliorating the security crisis, resources should not be taken away from addressing the surging humanitarian needs, which include more than 5 million people who do not have enough to eat.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
  • Taking control of the narrative is the first step to ameliorating the damage.
    — David Rivera, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of ameliorating

Browse Nearby Words

sweetened
sweetening
sweetens
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Cite this Entry

“Sweetening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sweetening. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sweetening

Nglish: Translation of sweetening for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sweetening

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