Library / English Dictionary

SOFTEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become soft or softer

Example:

The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):

mellow (make or grow (more) mellow)

macerate (become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

harden (become hard or harder)

Derivation:

softening (the process of becoming softer)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make soft or softer

Example:

This liquid will soften your laundry

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Cause:

soften (become soft or softer)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):

mellow (soften, make mellow)

mollify (make less rigid or softer)

macerate (soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

harden (make hard or harder)

Derivation:

softener (a substance added to another to make it less hard)

softening (the process of becoming softer)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lessen in force or effect

Example:

break a fall

Synonyms:

break; damp; dampen; soften; weaken

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

blunt; deaden (make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):

deafen (make soundproof)

damp; dampen; deaden (make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make less severe or harsh

Example:

He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears

Synonyms:

mince; moderate; soften

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Protect from impact

Example:

cushion the blow

Synonyms:

buffer; cushion; soften

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make (images or sounds) soft or softer

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):

change intensity (increase or decrease in intensity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):

damp; dampen; dull; muffle; mute; tone down (deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

sharpen (make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Give in, as to influence or pressure

Synonyms:

relent; soften; yield

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):

truckle (yield to out of weakness)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue soften

Credits

 Context examples: 

Jupiter came in to soften the sometimes stringent teachings of Saturn and Pluto on December 2, 2019, and will remain with you for a year.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

But there was such an influence in Mr. Wickfield's old house, that when I knocked at it, with my new school-books under my arm, I began to feel my uneasiness softening away.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

There, the surprize was not softened by any satisfaction.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Nay, I meant not worldly love, but rather that his heart should soften towards those who have wronged him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The matter itself I could not deny, and vain was every endeavour to soften it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

When the years had passed and I had made my money at Barberton I thought perhaps I could seek her out and soften her.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Necrosis and softening of the white matter around the ventricles in the brain.

(Periventricular Leukomalacia, NCI Thesaurus)

"And I'm not afraid of confession, either," she said, with softening face and voice.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

"Lizzie," she replied, softening toward him, her hand pressing his arm, while her body leaned against his.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)