Synonyms

soften

American

[saw-fuhn, sof-uhn] / ˈsɔ fən, ˈsɒf ən /

verb (used with object)

to make soft or softer.

Synonyms:

ease, quiet, calm, alleviate, soothe, mitigate, mollify, melt

Antonyms:

harden

verb (used without object)

to become soft or softer.

Antonyms:

harden

soften British

/ ˈsɒfən /

verb

to make or become soft or softer
to make or become gentler
(intr) commerce
1. (of demand, a market, etc) to weaken
2. (of a price) to fall

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

oversoften verb
resoften verb
unsoftening adjective

Etymology

Origin of soften

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; soft, -en ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The difference reflects a larger question facing the central bank: whether the current inflation backdrop requires maintaining restrictive policy, or whether emerging signs of economic softening and improving supply conditions justify a more gradual shift.

From Barron's

Exports in February are expected to show moderate growth, in line with a broader softening trend.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The decline in GfK consumer confidence in March... is probably the start of a bigger fall and suggests real household spending growth will soften in 2026," Webb said.

From BBC

Shelter inflation, in particular, is expected to trend substantially lower this year due to softening rent growth.

From Barron's

Non-manufacturing activity softened and employment growth was muted, with overall employment falling for the first time in over a year.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023