soften Definition
- 1make or become soft or softer
- 2make someone less angry or hostile
Using soften: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "soften" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She used a hair conditioner to soften her hair.
Example
The butter will soften if you leave it out of the fridge.
Example
He tried to soften the blow by offering her a job in another department.
Example
She hoped that his apology would soften her father's anger.
soften Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with soften
soften up
make someone or something more vulnerable or receptive
Example
The coach made them run laps to soften them up before the game.
Example
After hearing the other side's argument, she softened her stance on the issue.
Example
He tried to soften the blow by telling her gently that he was leaving.
Summary: soften in Brief
The verb 'soften' [ˈsɒfən] means to make or become soft or less hard, as in 'The butter will soften if you leave it out of the fridge.' It can also mean to make someone less angry or hostile, such as 'She hoped that his apology would soften her father's anger.' The phrase 'soften up' means to make someone or something more vulnerable or receptive, while 'soften the blow' means to make bad news or a difficult situation easier to accept or deal with.
