Antonyms for soften
ˈsɔ fən, ˈsɒf ənsoft·en

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. soften

   Etymologically, to alleviate is to lift a burden toward oneself, and so lighten it for the bearer; to relieve is to lift it back from the bearer, nearly or quite away; to remove is to take it away altogether. Alleviate is thus less than relieve; relieve, ordinarily, less than remove. We alleviate, relieve or remove the trouble; we relieve, not alleviate, the sufferer. Assuage is, by derivation, to sweeten; mitigate, to make mild; moderate, to bring within measure; abate, to beat down, and so make less. We abate a fever; lessen anxiety; moderate passions or desires; lighten burdens; mitigate or alleviate pain; reduce inflammation; soften, assuage, or moderate grief; we lighten or mitigate punishments; we relieve any suffering of body or mind that admits of help, comfort, or remedy. Alleviate has been often confused with allay. Compare ALLAY.

   Antonyms:
   aggravate, augment, embitter, enhance, heighten, increase, intensify, magnify, make worse

   Synonyms:
   abate, alleviate, assuage, lessen, lighten, mitigate, moderate, reduce, relieve, remove

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. soften

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, aggravate, excite, infuriate, consolidate

   Synonyms:
   mollify, palliate, compose, mitigate, assuage, dulcify, lenity, yield, macerate, humanize, abate, moderate

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Change Intensity
   • Deaden
   • Modify

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. softenverb

   make (images or sounds) soft or softer

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, sharpen

   Synonyms:
   relent, buffer, yield, moderate, cushion, mince, break, damp, weaken, dampen

2. dampen, damp, soften, weaken, breakverb

   lessen in force or effect

   "soften a shock"; "break a fall"

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, sharpen

   Synonyms:
   crack, step down, break away, give way, mince, reveal, give out, unwrap, conk out, part, wash, counteract, collapse, die, transgress, founder, weaken, discover, snap off, stop, go, demote, break out, separate, cushion, muffle, split, give away, damp, smash, dull, offend, get out, fracture, relegate, bring out, violate, pause, divulge, buffer, let on, get around, interrupt, wear out, cave in, deaden, break-dance, check, break up, breach, break in, give, split up, subvert, better, burst, go bad, break off, tone down, disclose, bust, erupt, moisten, relent, recrudesce, undermine, stifle, break dance, go against, dampen, fall in, bump, let out, ruin, fall apart, kick downstairs, de-escalate, break down, infract, fail, come apart, bankrupt, develop, mute, expose, break, moderate, discontinue, intermit, countermine, yield, wear, sabotage

3. yield, relent, softenverb

   give in, as to influence or pressure

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, sharpen

   Synonyms:
   mince, render, ease up, grant, give way, pay, moderate, cushion, relent, give, buffer, weaken, afford, knuckle under, give in, cede, concede, succumb, move over, generate, return, dampen, buckle under, damp, yield, bear, break

4. cushion, buffer, softenverb

   protect from impact

   "cushion the blow"

   Antonyms:
   sharpen, harden, indurate

   Synonyms:
   relent, buffer, yield, moderate, cushion, mince, break, damp, weaken, dampen

5. mince, soften, moderateverb

   make less severe or harsh

   "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears"

   Antonyms:
   sharpen, harden, indurate

   Synonyms:
   lead, temper, curb, mince, hold in, tame, relent, control, moderate, hold, cushion, check, break, weaken, tone down, yield, buffer, damp, dampen, chasten, chair, contain

6. softenverb

   make soft or softer

   "This liquid will soften your laundry"

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, sharpen

   Synonyms:
   relent, buffer, yield, moderate, cushion, mince, break, damp, weaken, dampen

7. softenverb

   become soft or softer

   "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it"

   Antonyms:
   harden, indurate, sharpen

   Synonyms:
   relent, buffer, yield, moderate, cushion, mince, break, damp, weaken, dampen

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. softenverb

   Synonyms:
   intenerate, mollify, palliate, extenuate, qualify, modify, relax, mitigate, emolliate, appease, temper, abate, subdue, tone down

How to use soften in a sentence?

1. Johann Kaspar Lavater:

   There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness, and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness, and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.

2. Michael Green:

   While that does soften the blow of the rising prices you can see how consumers, looking at how crude prices are dropping, feel frustrated at the higher prices for gasoline.

3. Kevin Daly:

   This is a lot of negative news, that is for sure ... We have a double-whammy happening, meaning copper prices continue to soften, and production targets are really at risk because of Glencore news, you could see a double-digit fiscal deficit very easily this year.

4. Le Maire:

   The European Recovery Fund must allow us to provide support to the aerospace industry and its 3,000 subcontractors, the emergency for me is to soften the shock, but also to keep financing innovation and investment.

5. William Congreve:

   Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.N.B. This quote is commonly misquoted as savage beast.

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