Synonyms

sweeten

American

[sweet-n] / ˈswit n /

verb (used with object)

to make sweet, as by adding sugar.
to make mild or kind; soften.
to lessen the acridity or pungency of (a food) by prolonged cooking.
to reduce the saltiness of (a food or dish) by diluting with water, milk, or other liquid.
to make (the breath, room air, etc.) sweet or fresh, as with a mouthwash, spray, etc.
(in musical recording) to add musical instruments to (an arrangement), especially strings for a lusher sound.
Chemistry.
1. to make (the stomach, soil, etc.) less acidic, as by means of certain preparations, chemicals, etc.
2. to remove sulfur and its compounds from (oil or gas).
Informal.
1. to enhance the value of (loan collateral) by including additional or especially valuable securities.
2. to add to the value or attractiveness of (any proposition, holding, etc.).
to add more liquor to (an alcoholic drink).
Poker. to add stakes to (a pot) before opening.

verb (used without object)

to become sweet or sweeter.

sweeten British

/ ˈswiːtən /

verb

(also intr) to make or become sweet or sweeter
to mollify or soften (a person)
to make more agreeable
(also intr) chem to free or be freed from unpleasant odours, acidic or corrosive substances, or the like
finance to raise the value of (loan collateral) by adding more securities
informal poker to enlarge (the pot) by adding chips

"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

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Etymology

Origin of sweeten

First recorded in 1545–55; sweet + -en ¹

Explanation

When you sweeten something, you make it taste sweeter. To sweeten your lemonade, just add more sugar. To literally sweeten something, like your muffin recipe or a cup of tea, all you need to do is add something that tastes sweet, like honey, molasses, sugar, or even apple juice. When you figuratively sweeten something, you make it more appealing or acceptable. The phrase "sweeten the pot" or "sweeten the deal" comes from poker, in which it means to add more bets (or money) to the game.

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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.

See Examples For:

sweeten sweetens sweetened sweetening

For families trying to figure out whether to use the accounts, the proposed rules could sweeten the deal, financial advisers say.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Everyone else receives bronze-tier getaways that include two nights in a variety of U.S. cities, and Mystery Vacations strives to sweeten the deals when possible, Jaura said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

According to Hunter, jury members had made up their minds before the remaining three castaways even had a shot to sweeten their chances at the final tribal council.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

New, massive ships filled with amenities and private islands helped sweeten the deal.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

“Oh no, no….I just wanted to drop those off. Figured you could both use a little something to sweeten your day.”

From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome

It may also offer them a cut of the spoils from a tolled Strait, but that hardly sweetens the foul deal for the rest of the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

Here is how the deal sours for Netflix and sweetens for Paramount.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 22, 2025

The ketchup serves two purposes: It sweetens everything and acts as a binder, thickening the mixture so it can cling to the tofu pieces and season them as they roast.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 14, 2024

For those of us who make our homes in northerly climates, the fleeting nature of the warmest season sweetens the joy of this frozen treat all the more.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2023

Celia enters her kitchen and warms a little milk on the stove, then sweetens it with a few lumps of sugar.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Artificially sweetened beverages, however, were not linked to an increased risk.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026

The Cortado Cloud, a 4-ounce espresso or matcha drink sweetened with vanilla syrup and finished with a thick cream top, is exclusive to Studio City.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Serve with lightly sweetened orange-zest whipped cream — homemade or straight from the spray can.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Sources close to the new deal said the creditors had sweetened it with hundreds of millions in new money on top of the existing offer.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

One company, called Tree Top, has developed a “low-moisture, naturally sweetened apple piece infused with a red-wine extract.”

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Some are also sold separately for sweetening foods and beverages.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026

Developers tell the NYTimes that Chinese companies are sweetening deals by providing personal incentives to switch, drawing on the years of on-the-ground experience China’s tech and telecom providers have built up on the continent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Paramount, which had initially bid $108 billion for the entire company, continued to circle, launching a hostile tender offer aimed directly at shareholders and continually sweetening the terms of its bid.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 16, 2026

Netflix is offering to pay $27.75 per share in cash, sweetening its offer from the initial bid, which proposed a mix of cash and shares in the new company.

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026

“I—” “You’re making sure I turn up to the game this afternoon, aren’t you? You’re sweetening me up.”

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak

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