Soften (Verb)
Meaning 1
Become soft or softer; "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The fabric will soften if you wash it in cold water.
- A little heat will soften the wax, making it easy to mold.
- The grime on the windows will soften if you spray it with the right cleaner.
- Soaking the pot in warm water will soften the food particles stuck to it.
- The oil in the pan will soften the flavors of the spices and herbs.
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Meaning 2
Protect from impact; "cushion the blow".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- Airbags are designed to soften the impact of a car accident and reduce the risk of injury to passengers.
- The thick grass helped soften the landing as the child tumbled to the ground, preventing any serious injury.
- Extra padding is often used in luggage to soften the impact of rough handling during transit.
- The company should try to soften the blow of the layoffs by providing generous severance packages and job placement services.
- A thick layer of bubble wrap was added to the package to soften the impact of bumps and drops during shipping.
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Meaning 3
Give in, as to influence or pressure.
Classification
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations.
Examples
- She finally softened when her children promised to help with the household chores in exchange for a puppy.
- The politician's stance on environmental issues began to soften after meeting with local activists who presented compelling arguments.
- He wouldn't soften his schedule to accommodate his sister's visit, so she had to change her plans.
- The strict rules softened over time as the school administrators realized they were too harsh on the students.
- She refused to soften on her policy of not lending money to friends, even when her best friend begged for a loan.
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Meaning 4
Lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The news of her passing was a shock, but knowing she was no longer in pain helped to soften the blow.
- The government's emergency funding was intended to soften the economic impact of the disaster on the community.
- Airbags are designed to soften the force of impact in a car crash by cushioning the driver's head and body.
- If you're telling someone some bad news, try to soften it by being empathetic and understanding.
- The counselor helped the family members to soften their anger towards each other by facilitating open communication and self-reflection.
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Meaning 5
Make soft or softer; "This liquid will soften your laundry".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The conditioner in the shampoo was added to soften the hair.
- Applying moisturizer regularly can soften dry skin.
- The enzyme broke down the protein to soften the leather.
- Wetting the soil will soften the earth for digging.
- The humidity in the air can soften the effects of wrinkles on wood.
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Meaning 6
Make (images or sounds) soft or softer.
Classification
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling.
Examples
- The new software can soften the edges of digital images to create a more realistic effect.
- In the audio mixing process, the engineer used equalization to soften the harsh sound of the cymbals.
- Applying the correct lens filter can soften the tones of a landscape photo.
- The diffuser was used to soften the harsh lighting on the subject's face.
- By adding a low-pass filter, the video editor managed to soften the overall appearance of the visuals.
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Meaning 7
Make less severe or harsh; "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- Her kindness helped soften the blow of losing her job and inspired her to look for new opportunities.
- The apology was intended to soften the criticism that had been levied against the company.
- The news of the economic downturn was softened by the announcement of government assistance programs.
- The president's initial proposal was softened to appease the opposition party and gain bipartisan support.
- The bitter tone of the letter was softened by the polite closing and the offer to discuss further.