cushioning
Absorbing the blow
Cushioning is the material or effect that absorbs impact or provides softness.
A shoe's cushioning protects joints from hard surfaces.
The packaging needs more cushioning.
The term extends to anything that softens a blow, literal or figurative: Savings provide cushioning against financial setbacks.
In dating slang, cushioning means maintaining backup romantic options while in a relationship—keeping "cushions" to land on if things fail.
Comfortable warm intimacy
- plushnessSoft, rich texture
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- snugnessComfortable tightness or warmth
- warmthHeat you feel
relaxation · sinking · nestling · ease · luxury · restfulness · soothing · pampering
Forceful contact or consequence
- bumpersVehicle collision cushions
- airbagsCrash-activated vehicle cushions
- bufferProtective intermediate space
- shieldingProtecting from harm
guard · barrier · dampening · resilience · safeguard · armor · helmets · shockproof
Bubble-filled substance
- paddingMaterial for cushioning
- battingSwinging at pitches
- stuffingSeasoned mixture for cavities
- fiberfillSynthetic padding material
down · kapok · wadding · quilting · upholstery · filler · interlining · gel
Thick-pile soft fabric
- softYielding to touch
- fluffySoft and light-textured
- downyHaving soft, fine texture
- suppleFlexing without damage
velvet · silky · fleece · feathery · satin · suede · gentle · smooth
Air-filled packing material
- styrofoamExpanded plastic foam material
- cardboardRigid paper for containers
- cratingEnclosing in shipping containers
- wrappingOuter covering material
insulation · filler · protection · shipping · fragile · padding · corrugated · shockproof
coziness
Comfortable warm intimacy
- plushnessSoft, rich texture
- softnessYielding to gentle pressure
- snugnessComfortable tightness or warmth
warmth · relaxation · sinking · nestling · ease · luxury · restfulness · soothing · pampering · indulgence
impact
Forceful contact or consequence
- bumpersVehicle collision cushions
- airbagsCrash-activated vehicle cushions
- bufferProtective intermediate space
shielding · guard · barrier · dampening · resilience · safeguard · armor · helmets · shockproof · impact-resistant
foam
Bubble-filled substance
fiberfill · down · kapok · wadding · quilting · upholstery · filler · interlining · gel · polyurethane
plush
Thick-pile soft fabric
supple · velvet · silky · fleece · feathery · satin · suede · gentle · smooth · delicate
bubble-wrap
Air-filled packing material
- styrofoamExpanded plastic foam material
- cardboardRigid paper for containers
- cratingEnclosing in shipping containers
wrapping · insulation · filler · protection · shipping · fragile · padding · corrugated · shockproof
midsole
Shoe's cushioning middle layer
trainers · sneakers · orthotics · pronation · supination · gait · stability · stride · running · gel
- defenseswall, walls, fence, gate, barrier
- warehousingwarehouse, warehouses, fulfillment centers, fulfillment center, distribution centers
- Joint Careglucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, joint cream, knee brace
- stuffing materialspolyester fill, cotton, batting, polyfill, fiberfill
- safetysafety helmet, hazard, airbag, alert, occupational safety
- childproofingbaby gate, outlet cover, safety gates, cabinet lock, safety gate
cushioningjarring
Disturbingly incongruous
jolting · hardening · rigidity · stiffening · unpadded
cushioningexacerbating
Making something worse
exposing · aggravating · intensifying · worsening · amplifying
cushion, cushions, cushioned, cushiony, cushier, cushiness, cushionless, seat cushion, air cushion