soften
Grow less adamant
Soften means to make or become less hard, rigid, or harsh.
Butter softens at room temperature.
A blow can be softened by cushioning.
Faces soften when anger fades.
Her expression softened when she saw the child.
To soften someone up is to make them more receptive, often through flattery or persuasion before asking for something.
Ease or soothing relief
- consoleComfort in distress
- sootheGently ease discomfort
- reassureEase someone's doubts
- calmFree from agitation
ease · pacify · mollify · appease · placate · assuage · gentle · relax
Lessen intensity or preside
- temperState of mind
- mitigateMake less severe
- cushionStuffed fabric for comfort
- tone downReduce intensity or volume
mute · subdue · diminish · reduce · lessen · dilute · qualify · downplay
Cease resistance or severity
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- bendCurve or flex
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
budge · relax · thaw · unbend · ease · capitulate · acquiesce · accommodate
Deaden or suppress sound
- muteWithout voice or sound
- dampenWet slightly or diminish
- hushAbsence of sound
- quietenTo make less loud
deaden · cushion · absorb · baffle · insulate · silence · stifle · dull
Lack of sharpness
- diffuseSpread thinly throughout
- hazeMurky atmospheric suspension
- mistFine airborne moisture
- filterPorous separation device
vignette · fade · feather · smooth · blend · airbrush · retouch · mellow
comfort
Ease or soothing relief
calm · ease · pacify · mollify · appease · placate · assuage · gentle · relax · tranquilize
moderate
Lessen intensity or preside
tone down · mute · subdue · diminish · reduce · lessen · dilute · qualify · downplay · blunt
relent
Cease resistance or severity
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- bendCurve or flex
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
concede · budge · relax · thaw · unbend · ease · capitulate · acquiesce · accommodate · mellow
muffle
Deaden or suppress sound
quieten · deaden · cushion · absorb · baffle · insulate · silence · stifle · dull · pad
blur
Lack of sharpness
filter · vignette · fade · feather · smooth · blend · airbrush · retouch · mellow · pastel
condition
State or stipulation
- moisturizeAdd suppleness to skin
- hydrateInfuse with water
- lotionLiquid skin moisturizer
cream · balm · emollient · lanolin · glycerin · aloe · shea · oil · salve · humectant
pliable
Capable of bending easily
pliant · tender · squishy · cushiony · spongy · elastic · bendable · ductile · yielding · doughy
- softendampen, mute, muffle, tone down, moderate
- sugarcoatingsweeten, gloss over, whitewash, prettify, sanitize
- tenderizingtenderizer, mallet, meat mallet, meat tenderizer, pounding
- skincarecream, lotion, moisturizer, facial, serum
- diminishingabate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, ebb
- fading thingsvanish, wane, dissolve, dim, blur
- soft drinksCarbonated nonalcoholic beverages
- soft spotEmotional vulnerability or fondness
- soft targetUndefended vulnerable site
- soft serveAerated frozen dairy dessert
- soft fruitEasily bruised produce
- soften the blowReduce harshness of bad news
soft, softly, softness, softened, softening, software, softer, softens, softest