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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of soften
Heart rate rises, breath softens, and eyes glue to this magnificent 500-pound mammal that could rip me to pieces with the simple swipe of its striped paw.
—
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 May 2025
The auto industry has been lobbying California, and each of the states following its rules, to slow down, pause or soften their strict EV requirements, with some success.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 May 2025
This type of bleeding happens when the cervix softens and dilates, causing the mucus plug (which helps protect the cervix) to fall out.
—Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
Add onion, celery, pancetta, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and pancetta is just starting to very slightly brown, about 6 to 8 minutes.
2.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 May 2025
The auto industry has been lobbying California, and each of the states following its rules, to slow down, pause or soften their strict EV requirements, with some success.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 22 May 2025
This type of bleeding happens when the cervix softens and dilates, causing the mucus plug (which helps protect the cervix) to fall out.
—Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
Add onion, celery, pancetta, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and pancetta is just starting to very slightly brown, about 6 to 8 minutes.
2.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for soften
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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In Colorado, for example, several AI companies recently lobbied to delay and weaken the state’s landmark AI accountability legislation — a preview of what unchecked industry influence could look like under a regulatory freeze.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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This includes adults who have weakened immune systems, cancer or other underlying health conditions, and some mental health conditions.—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Next steps: While the long-term plan is developed, short-term measures are being considered to alleviate traffic issues.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2025
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On a quiet pandemic afternoon in 2021, Zhiyuan Wang, then a graduate student at Rice University, was alleviating his boredom by working on a weird mathematical problem.—
Shalma Wegsman,
Wired News,
25 May 2025
Verb
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Proponents argue that economic growth spurred by the tax cuts will mitigate debt concerns, though this remains speculative.—
Brian Menickella,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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The returns of Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw have mitigated the problem but only so much.—
Dylan Hernández,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
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That said, ByteDance’s growth was slightly tempered in 2024 compared to 2023, when the company grew its revenue from $80 billion to nearly $120 billion.—
TrueBridge Capital,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Supporting players are well cast across the board, with Williamson wisely tempering his character’s heartfelt exhortations to trust God so that Charlie comes across as supportive, not preachy.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Verb
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But add transit times to and from airports, buffer minutes for getting through security, and downtime waiting at gates, and the actual journey time would have been nearer ten hours.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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This is part of a larger effort to revitalize the lagoon to buffer against sea level rise and increase habitat for endangered wildlife such as California least terns and a more recent visitor, Eastern Pacific green sea turtles that feed on the lagoon’s eelgrass.—
Jeff Regan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The fluid surrounds the brain and keeps it cushioned and protected from the skull.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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This portfolio's quarterly rebalancing of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks enables it to capture gains during rallies while cushioning downside risks, as outlined in the RV Portfolio performance metrics.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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