How to Use soften in a Sentence

soften

verb
  • The oil is used to soften and preserve the leather.
  • The grass softened my fall.
  • The butter will soften if left on the counter overnight.
  • The recipe called for one stick of butter, softened.
  • Her face softened when he entered the room.
  • The lotion softens dry skin.
  • His criticism of the president has softened in the past year.
  • The company has softened its stance on dating in the workplace.
  • Now is not the time for the West to soften its resolve in the fight against Putin but to step it up.
    Time, 7 Oct. 2022
  • Leafy trees and potted shrubs soften the view of the city skyline.
    House Beautiful, 26 Jan. 2023
  • Afterward, use the spoolie to brush through your brows and soften the look.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2024
  • In the next few months, the great frozen swamplands of Alaska will soften and green.
    Ned Rozell | Alaska Science, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Mar. 2023
  • And there was no way to soften it by giving them a heads-up.
    Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 13 Oct. 2022
  • Knead each piece to soften and smooth dough and then roll it between the palms of your hands to form a 1¼-inch ball.
    WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022
  • Then, to soften the perimeter, tuck in stems with berries.
    Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2023
  • That’s not to say that prices softened or demand fell flat.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 4 Feb. 2024
  • But this doesn’t mean that the Hives have abandoned their punk-rock roots or softened their touch.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 May 2023
  • His resolve didn’t soften even when Ms. Mayes came out to her parents in the mid-1990s.
    Tammy Lagorce, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2023
  • Talakoub says to shave with—not against—the grain and to shave in a steamy shower to soften the hairs.
    Harper's BAZAAR, 26 May 2023
  • Heat the oil in a pan, then add the garlic and onions; after the onions soften, add the olives, capers and marinara sauce.
    Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2024
  • As the symphony of the world softens, her own body gets louder.
    Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
  • The Swiss ruling softened the blow for those who lost Tuesday.
    Molly Quell, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
  • Shape the clay around the parchment layer, using a bit of water to soften it.
    Janelle Davis, CNN, 30 Oct. 2022
  • Let that soften for a few seconds, and then deglaze the bottom of the pot with vegetable broth or water.
    G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
  • Green said there are steps districts can take to soften the blow of school closures.
    Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2024
  • If the croutons begin to soften over time, pop them back in the oven to toast them up before serving.
    Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023
  • But this time around, there are signs that his support among this bloc of voters has softened.
    Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2024
  • My suggestion is refrain from any foods that will wilt or soften from the kitchen to your room.
    Roger Sands, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022
  • The body oil also contains a caffeine-and-algae complex to help soften your skin and increase brightness.
    Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Microwave until butter is melted and onion is softened, about 1 minute.
    Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soften.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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