What does soften mean?

Definitions for soften
ˈsɔ fən, ˈsɒf ənsoft·en

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word soften.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. softenverb

    make (images or sounds) soft or softer

  2. dampen, damp, soften, weaken, breakverb

    lessen in force or effect

    "soften a shock"; "break a fall"

  3. yield, relent, softenverb

    give in, as to influence or pressure

  4. cushion, buffer, softenverb

    protect from impact

    "cushion the blow"

  5. mince, soften, moderateverb

    make less severe or harsh

    "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears"

  6. softenverb

    make soft or softer

    "This liquid will soften your laundry"

  7. softenverb

    become soft or softer

    "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it"

Wiktionary

  1. softenverb

    To make something soft or softer.

    Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.

  2. softenverb

    To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).

    Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.

  3. softenverb

    To make less harsh

    Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.

  4. softenverb

    To become soft or softer

    The butter softened as it warmed up.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Softenverb

    Etymology: from soft.

    Bodies, into which the water will enter, long seething will rather soften than indurate. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    Their arrow’s point they soften in the flame,
    And sounding hammers break its barbed frame. John Gay.

    I will soften stony hearts. John Milton.

    Our friends see not our faults, or conceal them, or soften them by their representation. Addison.

    I would correct the harsh expressions of one party, by softening and reconciling methods. Isaac Watts.

    Call round her tomb each object of desire,
    Bid her be all that chears or softens life,
    The tender sister, daughter, friend, and wife. Alexander Pope.

    Musick the fiercest griefs can charm;
    Musick can soften pain to ease,
    And make despair and madness please. Alexander Pope.

    He bore his great commission in his look,
    But sweetly temper’d awe, and soften’d all he spoke. Dryd.

  2. To Softenverb

    Many bodies, that will hardly melt, will soften; as iron in
    The forge. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

    He may soften at the sight of the child;
    The silence often of pure innocence
    Persuades, when speaking fails. William Shakespeare.

Wikipedia

  1. soften

    Søften (alternative spellings include Suten–1386, Suchten–1399, and Søwten–1489) is a small Danish town in Jutland, roughly three kilometers south of Hinnerup and just northwest of Aarhus. Søften has a population of 3,072 (1 January 2022). Archaeological surveys of the area indicate the earliest settlements dates to the Nordic Iron Age.

ChatGPT

  1. soften

    To lessen the intensity, severity, or harshness of something; or to make something softer or less rigid, often through heat, moisture, or other treatments. It can also refer to becoming more compassionate, gentle or sympathetic.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Softenverb

    to make soft or more soft

  2. Softenverb

    to render less hard; -- said of matter

  3. Softenverb

    to mollify; to make less fierce or intractable

  4. Softenverb

    to palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault

  5. Softenverb

    to compose; to mitigate; to assuage

  6. Softenverb

    to make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality

  7. Softenverb

    to make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture

  8. Softenverb

    to make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury

  9. Softenverb

    to make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice

  10. Softenverb

    to become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate

How to pronounce soften?

How to say soften in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of soften in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of soften in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of soften in a Sentence

  1. Danielle Hale:

    As inflation and mortgage rates likely soften later this year, buyers are likely to return to the market and be in search of an affordable home, and the ongoing housing supply shortage will only continue to put pressure on the market.

  2. Kevin Daly:

    This is a lot of negative news, that is for sure ... We have a double-whammy happening, meaning copper prices continue to soften, and production targets are really at risk because of Glencore news, you could see a double-digit fiscal deficit very easily this year.

  3. David Kelly:

    The question is are authorities doing all that they can to soften the blow of the social distancing recession?, i don't think we're there yet...There's going to be a lot of human misery out there.

  4. Michael Green:

    While that does soften the blow of the rising prices you can see how consumers, looking at how crude prices are dropping, feel frustrated at the higher prices for gasoline.

  5. Johann Kaspar Lavater:

    There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness, and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness, and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

soften#10000#30385#100000

Translations for soften

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • blødgøre, blødgøresDanish
  • ablandar, ablandarse, suavizarSpanish
  • adoucirFrench
  • deshardeskarIdo
  • ammorbidire, rendere malleabile, ammorbidirsi, rendere arrendevole, addolcireItalian
  • mollisLatin
  • verzachtenDutch
  • bløtgjøreNorwegian
  • suavizar, amolecerPortuguese
  • muia, înmuiaRomanian
  • размягчиться, размягчать, смягчать, смягчить, размягчаться, смягчаться, размягчить, смягчитьсяRussian
  • zbutAlbanian
  • mjuknaSwedish
  • lumambotTagalog

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"soften." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/soften>.

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