as in to soften
to lessen the shock of
a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cushion
Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The Panthers entered Saturday up four points on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top stop in the Atlantic and have a six-point cushion on the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning with 16 games left to play.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Notably, unlike in 2022, bonds have provided a safe haven as stocks have declined, which can help cushion the impact of a portfolio.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Noun
More homeowners carriers’ are operating with eroding capital cushions.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The Panthers entered Saturday up four points on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top stop in the Atlantic and have a six-point cushion on the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning with 16 games left to play.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
Isbell harbored a host of strengths — pitch control, projection and phrasing, plus a warm drawl that cushioned sharp syllables with soft landings — that increased his flair for storytelling and communicating feelings ranging from heartbreak to empathy and anger with clarity and directness.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Notably, unlike in 2022, bonds have provided a safe haven as stocks have declined, which can help cushion the impact of a portfolio.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushion
Noun
-
This not only builds in a buffer for unexpected moments but also shows respect for your audience’s time and leaves a lasting impression of polish and professionalism.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Strong personal support networks can be a buffer against the stress of political division.—
Nicole Lipkin,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Walker Kessler’s 3-point barrage Words soften over time.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
That eventually softened because of the relationships that grew over the 10 years that Cristina was on television.—
Patrick Gomez,
EW.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The Future May Be Port-Free Just imagine: no USB-C connector at the base of the phone, with only charging through a charging pad as an option, and with data synced exclusively wirelessly.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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While there is no number pad, Selecting between cooking options is easy using the dial and display.—
Meg St-Esprit,
Bon Appétit,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Here’s what to know about Chief Justice John Roberts and his complicated relationship with President Donald Trump: A history of enabling Trump's legal shield Roberts’ tenure as Chief Justice has coincided with some of the most tumultuous legal battles involving a sitting President.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
19 Mar. 2025
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The photon shields look like an Elizabethan collar.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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No matter the degree of pitch or roll, its frame and bumpers never made contact with the ground, either, thanks to 31- and 30-degree approach and departure angles, respectively, plus an impressive 9.5 inches of ground clearance.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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For instance, the price of an aluminum bumper or radiator purchased by an automaker from a Canadian or Mexican parts supplier would likely increase.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cushion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushion. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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