soften

[saw-fuhn, sof-uhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to make soft or softer.

   Synonyms: ease, quiet, calm, alleviate, soothe, mitigate, mollify, melt
   Antonyms: harden

verb (used without object)

1. to become soft or softer.

   Antonyms: harden

soften

/ ˈsɒfən /

verb

1. to make or become soft or softer

2. to make or become gentler

3. (intr) commerce

   1. (of demand, a market, etc) to weaken

   2. (of a price) to fall

Other Word Forms

• oversoften verb
• resoften verb
• unsoftening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soften¹

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

Example Sentences

There have been some signs that economic growth has slowed, and that the labor market has softened.

Read more on MarketWatch

Growth is slowing and the labor market may be softening, with firms stuck in a low hiring, low firing moment as a result of high uncertainty.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“But further softening would generate unwelcome slack, leaving the economy more vulnerable to adverse shocks and possibly triggering more unfavorable dynamics.”

Read more on Barron's

Still, he said the U.S. economy remained resilient despite some “signs of softening, particularly in job growth.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The president softened his position on meeting with Xi after initially suggesting the summit was off, and wrote with a more positive tone on Truth Social over the weekend.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abate 
• alleviate 
• cushion 
• diminish 
• dissolve 
• ease 
• lessen 
• lighten 
• lower 
• mellow 
• melt 
• mitigate 
• moderate 
• modify 
• relax 
• relent 
• temper 
• thaw 
• tone down 
• weaken