soften

soften
I
(Roget's IV) v.
1. [To become soft]
Syn. dissolve, lessen, diminish, disintegrate, become tender, become mellow, thaw, melt, moderate, bend, give, yield, relax, relent.
Ant. stiffen*, solidify, freeze.
2. [To make soft]
Syn. mollify, mellow, assuage, moisten, modify, palliate, appease, temper, tone down, qualify, lower, tenderize, enfeeble, weaken, deliberate, mash, knead; see also decrease 2 .
Ant. strengthen*, increase, tone up.
II
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) a.
moderate, mitigate, mellow, temper, diminish, ease, lighten, lessen, assuage, mollify, tone down, slacken.
ANT.: harden, intensify, toughen
III
(Roget's Thesaurus II) verb 1. To moderate or change a position or course of action as a result of pressure: ease off, relent, slacken, weaken, yield. Idiom: give way (or ground). See STRONG. 2. To make or become less severe or extreme: moderate, mute, qualify, subdue, tame, temper, tone down. See INCREASE. 3. To ease the anger or agitation of: appease, assuage, calm (down), conciliate, dulcify, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe, sweeten. Idiom: pour oil on troubled water. See CALM.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • Soften — Sof ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Softened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Softening}.] To make soft or more soft. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) To render less hard; said of matter. [1913 Webster] Their arrow s point they soften in the flame. Gay. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • soften — UK US /ˈsɒfən/ verb ► [I] FINANCE, STOCK MARKET if demand, a price, a market, etc. softens, it stops increasing or it goes down: »Share prices softened with continued worries about the country s economic recovery. »Although demand softened again… …   Financial and business terms

  • soften up — soften (someone/something) up to weaken someone or something. Constant bombing was designed to soften the enemy up and weaken him. The ads were just a way to soften up public opinion to accept a big price increase …   New idioms dictionary

  • soften — ► VERB 1) make or become soft or softer. 2) (often soften up) undermine the resistance of. DERIVATIVES softener noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Soften — Sof ten, v. i. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • soften — index allay, alleviate, assuage, commute, ease, extenuate, give (yield), mitigate …   Law dictionary

  • soften — (v.) late 14c., to mitigate, diminish, from SOFT (Cf. soft) (adj.). Meaning to make physically soft is from 1520s; intrans. sense of to become softer is attested from 1610s. Related: Softened; softening …   Etymology dictionary

  • soften — [v] calm, soothe abate, allay, alleviate, appease, assuage, become tender, bend, cushion, diminish, disintegrate, dissolve, ease, enfeeble, give, knead, lessen, lighten, lower, mash, mellow, melt, mitigate, moderate, modify, moisten, mollify,… …   New thesaurus

  • soften — [sôf′ən, säf′ən] vt., vi. [ME softnen: see SOFT & EN] 1. to make or become soft or softer 2. to weaken the resistance or opposition of …   English World dictionary

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