Definitions for soften
ˈsɔ fən, ˈsɒf ənsoft·en

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Softenverb

   Etymology: from soft.

   1. To make soft; to make less hard.

   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.

   2. To intenerate; to make less fierce or obstinate; to mollify.

   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.

   3. To make easy; to compose; to make placid; to mitigate; to palliate; to alleviate.

   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.

   4. To make less harsh.

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

2. To Softenverb

   1. To grow less hard.

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

   2. To grow less obdurate, cruel, or obstinate.

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

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Change Intensity
   • Deaden
   • Modify

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for soften »

1. oftens

How to pronounce soften?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Michelle Meyer:

   Inventory-to-sales ratios are at historic lows, record numbers of small businesses complain of tight inventories, ports are congested, and shortages of semiconductor chips and new/used cars are driving prices higher, we expect goods inflation to soften by year end as demand levels off and production rebounds, but wages may continue to climb.

2. William Congreve:

   Music has charms to soothe the savage breast To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

3. Raoul Ruparel:

   Certain parts of the economy will be hit by both Brexit and coronavirus, if Boris Johnson spent government money to soften the impact in these areas, Boris Johnson might find there is less opposition than if Boris Johnson were simply spending the money to offset the impact of Brexit alone, since there is far greater unity across the political spectrum on the need for such spending to aid the recovery from Covid-19.

4. William Congreve, The Mourning Bride, Act 1 Scene 1:

   Music has charms to soothe the savage breast To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.

5. William Congreve:

   Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.N.B. This quote is commonly misquoted as savage beast.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=soften
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Soften
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=soften
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soften
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soften
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=soften