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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of soften
The collective desire to create something meaningful softens us.
—
Editors Of Bon Appétit, Bon Appétit, 1 Nov. 2024
But some extremist politicians have embroiled our classrooms in toxic culture wars to soften the ground for their systematic defunding, privatizing, and voucherizing.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Stir occasionally for about three minutes, until the onion starts to glisten and soften.
—Claudia Alexander, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Add the garlic and rosemary sprig and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and carrots are beginning to soften, 5 to 8 minutes.
—Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soften 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soften
Verb
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Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
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With its climate leadership perceived to be weakening, New Zealand may get a cooler reception at COP than in previous years, especially from Pacific Island nations, Cooper said.Mahalia Dobson, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Employees can help alleviate holiday stress by being proactive.Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Pain Relief – Cannabinoids like THC and CBD have analgesic properties that may help alleviate body aches and headaches associated with the flu.Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Investments in health and education can mitigate the impact of population aging.Vegard Skirbekk, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
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Proactively address concerns and, if warranted, include them in the process of mitigating the issues.Cory McNeley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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But their happy homecoming was tempered by the town’s shocking appearance: businesses boarded up, cars and tractors stripped of parts, houses burned to the ground.Jake Whitney, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
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But China’s calculus is more complicated, because its desire to change the current world order is tempered by its reliance upon that very same order.Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Bespoke training and learning opportunities to help managers build these skills would buffer them from additional stress and set them up for managing efficiently and bringing hybrid teams together.Melissa A. Wheeler, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
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The brand pairs it with hyaluronic acid (for hydration and immediate plumping) and niacinamide (to brighten and soothe); the latter also buffers the potential irritation and redness associated with retinoids.Deanna Pai, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2024
Verb
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This futon couch is upholstered in rich velvet with a ribbed, tufted and cushioned back.Nora Colomer, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
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In late October, the company raised $25 Billion in new credit and debt arrangements to cushion the cash crunch that will continue for at least a year.Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Soften.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soften. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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