as in emollient
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Dissimilar Words
as in mellowing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in weakening
to diminish the physical strength of
three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in alleviating
to lessen the shock of
had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of softening
Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Some recipes call for soaking bran in boiling or hot water to speed the grain’s softening, but liquid at any temperature works as well.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The brand’s Glossing Detangler has a fan club of its own (more than 2,000 people bought this treatment in the past month alone), thanks to its shine-boosting, softening, and heat-protectant formula.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
As moisture begins to build in the room, your paint will start to bubble from the softening of the wall due to the higher humidity levels.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher overnight, buoyed by a softening in global oil prices on Tuesday as the G7 met to discuss the possible use of emergency crude reserves to ease the supply crunch.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Osteomalacia, a softening of the bones, was rare but occurred about twice as often in GLP-1 users, according to the study, which has not yet been peer reviewed.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Osteomalacia, a condition involving the softening of bones due to impaired mineralization, was rare but occurred about twice as often in the GLP-1 group.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2026
To speed the softening process, start by making a small incision in each tomato with a paring knife.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
With hindsight perhaps softening memories of sunstroke, cast members and a number of below-the-line crew now fairly rhapsodize about the uniqueness of the shoot.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Romantic Venus sextiles dreamy Neptune, softening conversations and opening space for empathy, imagination, and meaningful exchange.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
The statewide median sale price dipped slightly to $545,000, down about 1% year over year, suggesting that while the market remains active, pricing power is softening.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
The heat and humidity break down the structure of garlic by softening its cell walls and altering its sugars and proteins.
—Mavra Javed, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Two years later, Rosewood purchased it, with a vision of softening its hallowed halls and extraordinary architecture into something a little less severe.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
This jump-starts the softening process.
—Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Plus, these formulas aren’t limited to softening and smoothing only certain hair textures.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
But a softening of views on Cuba has not materialized despite that demographic transition.
—Sarah Moreno, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Some recipes call for soaking bran in boiling or hot water to speed the grain’s softening, but liquid at any temperature works as well.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
The brand’s Glossing Detangler has a fan club of its own (more than 2,000 people bought this treatment in the past month alone), thanks to its shine-boosting, softening, and heat-protectant formula.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 8 Apr. 2026
As moisture begins to build in the room, your paint will start to bubble from the softening of the wall due to the higher humidity levels.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Asia-Pacific markets traded higher overnight, buoyed by a softening in global oil prices on Tuesday as the G7 met to discuss the possible use of emergency crude reserves to ease the supply crunch.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Osteomalacia, a softening of the bones, was rare but occurred about twice as often in GLP-1 users, according to the study, which has not yet been peer reviewed.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Osteomalacia, a condition involving the softening of bones due to impaired mineralization, was rare but occurred about twice as often in the GLP-1 group.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2026
To speed the softening process, start by making a small incision in each tomato with a paring knife.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
After a decade of animosity, opinion polls show Americans’ views of China are softening, especially among the young.
—Andy Browne, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
With hindsight perhaps softening memories of sunstroke, cast members and a number of below-the-line crew now fairly rhapsodize about the uniqueness of the shoot.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
Romantic Venus sextiles dreamy Neptune, softening conversations and opening space for empathy, imagination, and meaningful exchange.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
The statewide median sale price dipped slightly to $545,000, down about 1% year over year, suggesting that while the market remains active, pricing power is softening.
—Sara B. Hansen, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
The heat and humidity break down the structure of garlic by softening its cell walls and altering its sugars and proteins.
—Mavra Javed, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Two years later, Rosewood purchased it, with a vision of softening its hallowed halls and extraordinary architecture into something a little less severe.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
This jump-starts the softening process.
—Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026
Plus, these formulas aren’t limited to softening and smoothing only certain hair textures.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softening
Adjective
-
Barrier cream launches this time of year are plentiful, but there’s one that’s really worth your attention: Bubble’s Soft Swerve Barrier Restore Balm, an intensely emollient moisturizer that coats your skin in a nourishing formula that rewards you with a soft, supple complexion over night.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
21 Jan. 2026
-
When shopping for a hydrating lip balm, focus on nourishing, emollient ingredients rather than those that create a temporary tingle.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The spring and summer months will elicit much mellowing.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Here’s a look at my experience, which—sadly—included no dogs, but has had a subtly mellowing effect on my own mood.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Onion Grass These invasive weeds are fast-growing and rob your grass of water, nutrients, and sunlight, weakening your garden over time, says Brian Feldman, senior director of technical operations at TruGreen.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Muscle loss and bone weakening Numerous studies have documented that rapid weight loss from Ozempic and other medications can cause significant muscle loss, especially in people who don’t increase their protein intake.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The five-year, $11 billion project will add 16 miles of express lanes and a dedicated busway with the aim of alleviating traffic on one of Atlanta’s most stressful roads.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
At the same time, the conflict is also likely to bolster demand for China’s world-leading green energy manufacturers as countries push to wean themselves off fossil fuel dependency, potentially alleviating a downward price spiral that recently pushed Beijing to curb solar overcapacity.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Others have criticized the White House for taking a vindictive approach and targeting Democratic states that may have larger Medicaid populations and more lenient eligibility requirements.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The lenient return policy is a major perk of being a member.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fertilizing can reduce flowering and make the plants flop.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Plant in full sun for best flowering.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The merciful end came three weeks after Sunderland’s surrender to relegation in May 2017.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The age difference between the Aunt Lydia School students and the actors who play them has never felt more merciful than in this week’s episode.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As storms move east into Arkansas and the lower Mississippi Valley later in the day, forecasters expect some evolution into larger storm clusters, which may shift the dominant threat toward more widespread damaging winds while still supporting hail and isolated tornadoes.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The evolution of the Anglo-American Special Relationship underscores important events of that global total war, and the Cold War and post-Cold War eras that have followed.—
Arthur I. Cyr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softening. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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