Definition of soften - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
gentle texturetr. make something less hardtr.
- Warm hands will soften the butter quickly.
2.
more gentleintr. become less hardintr.
- The butter softened on the counter.
3.
impacttr. reduce in intensity or effecttr.
- The cushion will soften the fall.
4.
perceptiontr. make a sound or light less harshtr.
- The curtains soften the bright sunlight.
5.
criticismtr. make less severe or harshtr.
- He tried to soften his criticism with a compliment.
6.
attitudeintr. become more sympathetic or gentleintr.
- Her stance softened after the apology.
7.
businessintr. weaken in demand or marketintr.
- The market is expected to soften next quarter.
Expressions with soften
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make something less hard or firm
She used cream to soften up the leather.
become less strict or severe
After the discussion, he decided to soften his stance on the issue.
reduce the negative impact of something unpleasant
He tried to soften the blow by offering a solution.
reduce someone's arrogance or confidence
The harsh feedback will soften his cough.
make the ground less hard for planting
Farmers soften the ground before planting seeds.
lessen the force of a blow
The airbags are designed to soften the impact during a collision.
Origin of soften
Old English, softian (to soften)
Terms with soften included in their meaning
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softening
used to soften commands or requests
cleaning
use hot vapor to soften or clean fabrics
cleansing product
foamy substance used in baths to cleanse and soften skin
politeness
used to soften a potentially rude statement
cooking cleaning
place something in liquid for a time to soften or clean
cosmetics
oily liquid rubbed on skin to soften, scent, or relax
soften
make something unpleasant seem less so
politeness
soften a question or request
communication
used to soften a potentially offensive comment
grooming
cream used to soften hair for shaving
grooming product
foamy substance used to soften hair before shaving
shaving grooming
oil used to soften hair and reduce friction when shaving
soften
make something less intense or severe
covering
cover with a thin cloth to hide or soften
pre-shave
liquid used before shaving to soften facial hair
kitchen
cook leafy greens briefly until they soften and fall flat
communication
used to soften an insult or criticism
dishwasher product
granulated salt used in dishwashers to soften water
soften criticism
used to soften a critical comment
social etiquette
said after praising yourself, half-joking, to soften the boast
liquid state
left in liquid to absorb or soften
wet objects
being left in liquid to soften or clean
communication
suppress or soften the expression of
softening
used to soften a potentially offensive statement
Examples of soften in a sentence
Warm water will soften the wax. The beans will soften after an hour. The wax began to soften in the sun. The new policy will soften the economic blow. Music can soften the harsh reality of life. The music was softened to create a calming atmosphere.
He softened his voice to avoid waking the baby. She tried to soften the blow with a joke. The manager softened his stance after the meeting. His tone softened when he saw her tears. The teacher's attitude softened after hearing the student's story. Analysts predict the housing market will soften soon. Demand for luxury goods may soften this year.
View all translations of soften
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:ramollir, s'attendrir, ...
- German:weich machen, weich werden, ...
- Italian:ammorbidire, ammorbidirsi, ...
- Spanish:ablandar, ablandarse, ...
- Portuguese:amolecer, atenuar, ...
- Chinese:软化, 变软, ...
- Japanese:柔らかくする, 柔らかくなる, ...
- Arabic:لَيَّنَ, ذَاب, ...
- Hebrew:לְרַכֵּךְ, לְהִתְרַכֵּךְ, ...
- Russian:смягчать, размягчаться, ...
- Ukrainian:пом'якшувати, м'якшати, ...
- Hindi:नरम करना, नरम होना, ...
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