softened up
Prepared for persuasion
Softened up describes someone or something that has been weakened or made more receptive through preliminary pressure or persuasion.
Troops soften up enemy defenses with bombardment before an assault.
Salespeople soften up customers with small talk before the pitch.
After a few drinks, he was softened up enough to agree to the plan.
The phrase implies deliberate preparation for what comes next.
- calmed downBecame less upset
- taken the edge offDiminished intensity or severity
- mollifyReduce anger or distress
- mellowedBecame softer, calmer
- relaxedFree of stress
soothed · disarmed · pliable · primed · tenderized · worked over · yielding · coaxed · talked around · alleviate · broken down · prepared · eased · won over · weakened · persuaded · broke in · assuage
softened uphardened
Made tough or unfeeling
stiffened · solidified · toughened · rigidified · set
softened uphardened
Made tough or unfeeling
toughened up · steeled · emboldened · fortified · stiffened
softened upfortified
Made more resistant
reinforced · strengthened · shored up · bolstered · entrenched
soft, soften, softened, softening, softens, softer, softest, softly, softness