mellowing

Becoming less harsh

Mellowing is the process of becoming softer, gentler, or more relaxed over time.

Wine mellows with age, losing harsh tannins.

People mellow too—becoming less rigid, less angry, more easygoing: He's mellowed a lot since his twenties.

The afternoon light was mellowing into gold.

ripening

aging

Growing older over time

maturationProcess of becoming complete
maturingDeveloping toward completion
vintageQuality from past eras

fermenting · curing · seasoning · sweetening · peak · full-bodied · ripe · harvest · cellaring · developing

softening

calming

Inducing a settled state

soothingReducing distress or discomfort
relaxingBecoming less tense
temperingControlled heating and cooling

gentling · easing · moderating · subduing · toning down · unwinding · settling · cooling off · de-escalating · defusing

Categories

maturingaging, ripening, developing, seasoning, coming of age
flavor changessweetening, souring, bitterness, saltiness, intensifying
softeningmoistening, tenderizing, cushioning, relaxing, easing
cooking techniquessear, simmering, boiling, frying, saute
emotional changehealing, heartbreak, falling in love, grief, recovery
maturationripening, maturing, development, growth, aging

Opposites

temperament/disposition change

mellowinghardening

Becoming less soft

souring · toughening · embittering · sharpening · stiffening

intensity/energy level

mellowingintensifying

Increasing in strength

agitating · riling up · escalating · amping up · energizing

intensity/sharpness

mellowingsharpening

Making more cutting

intensifying · hardening · heightening · amplifying · edging

Phrases

mellowing outBecoming calmer, less intense

Family

mellow, mellowed, mellows, mellowness, mellower, mellowly, mellowest, mellow out

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Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G