as in weak
lacking bodily strength
the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in weakened
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tempered
to lessen the shock of
had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of softened
Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Just as cyclical stocks had become the clear choice into and after the election, the economic data have softened a bit from strong levels, prompting industrials and bank stocks last week to pull back 2% or so.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
After the pandemic’s e-commerce boom, big spender expectations for this holiday season began to sour like spoiled eggnog when inflation entered the chat and the labor market softened.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024
Following the death of her makeup artist, Alexis Vogel, in 2019, who lost her battle with breast cancer, Anderson says her look softened.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
The moody, dark colors of the interiors are offset by high ceilings and walls of glass that flood the house with natural light, while the hard edges and metal accents are softened by rough-sawn English oak floorboards, natural materials and cozy fabrics.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2024
Microwave until butter is melted and onion is softened, about 1 minute.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024
Even as the advertising market has softened in recent years, advertisers have continued to spend on sports.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2024
Stir in shallot and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 1 minute.
—Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
Unwrap 1 dough log; let stand at room temperature until slightly softened, about 20 minutes.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2024
Just as cyclical stocks had become the clear choice into and after the election, the economic data have softened a bit from strong levels, prompting industrials and bank stocks last week to pull back 2% or so.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2024
After the pandemic’s e-commerce boom, big spender expectations for this holiday season began to sour like spoiled eggnog when inflation entered the chat and the labor market softened.
—Adam Mansuroglu, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024
Following the death of her makeup artist, Alexis Vogel, in 2019, who lost her battle with breast cancer, Anderson says her look softened.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 3 Dec. 2024
The moody, dark colors of the interiors are offset by high ceilings and walls of glass that flood the house with natural light, while the hard edges and metal accents are softened by rough-sawn English oak floorboards, natural materials and cozy fabrics.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2024
Microwave until butter is melted and onion is softened, about 1 minute.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024
Even as the advertising market has softened in recent years, advertisers have continued to spend on sports.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 29 Nov. 2024
Stir in shallot and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 1 minute.
—Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softened
Adjective
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Scene-to-scene continuity is typically weak and telling.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Capasa noted that a negative third quarter impacted by weak internal demand, the slowdown of purchases from Chinese customers and overall geopolitical instability kept worsening the cautious scenario already registered in the first half of the year.Sandra Salibian, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With Assad gone and Iran weakened, new commercial routes, reconstruction opportunities, and trade corridors beckon.Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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But Israeli bombardments have weakened Tehran as well as its allies in the Axis of Resistance—Lebanon's Hezbollah.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The antihero actioner earned a feeble $4.7 million across Friday and preview screenings from 3,211 locations.J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 14 Dec. 2024
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Those with muscle dysmorphia usually have a belief or preoccupation that their body is weak, feeble, too small, or not muscular enough.Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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These kinds of periods happen in cyclical industries such as autos, but could the spending have potentially been avoided — or at least alleviated — this time around?Michael Wayland, NBC News, 25 Nov. 2024
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The statement has alleviated fears about the tech giant’s potential removal from the Nasdaq, putting an end to the uncertainty surrounding its listing.Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The ones that come to mind for us are easily Beyond Yoga’s super soft, smooth Spacedye tights.Sara Coughlin, SELF, 10 Dec. 2024
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This expands their volume, destroying cells and making their texture soft.Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Both the Navy and Air Force are adhering to the voluntary operational pause, which is indefinite as the services look at how the safety issue can be mitigated.Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
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He’s made up for his lack of production by delivering key passes or key scrambles in certain critical moments, and the passing game’s shortcomings have been mitigated by Barkley’s dominance.Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Many disabled individuals face not only physical pain but also profound psychological scars and societal rejection in Gaza, international and local medical professionals said.Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 14 Dec. 2024
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The law prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified applicants based on disability and ensures that disabled individuals have equal access to job opportunities.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near softened
Cite this Entry
“Softened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softened. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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