softens
Loses its edge
Softens is the third-person singular form of soften, meaning to make or become less hard, harsh, or severe.
Water softens dried clay.
Time softens grief.
A person softens their tone when they become gentler: Her expression softened when she saw the child.
To soften a blow is to lessen its impact, literal or figurative.
Reduces severity of
- lessensMakes smaller in degree
- lightensMakes less burdensome
- mitigatesMakes something less harsh
- reducesMakes less in quantity
diminishes · moderates · relieves · abates · smooths · facilitates · loosens · cushions
Satisfies to prevent conflict
- placatesCalms someone's anger
- pacifiesBrings to calm
- calmsReduces agitation
- disarmsRemoves threat potential
defuses · conciliates · reconciles · soothes · gentles · mellows · sweetens · thaws
Adds water to skin
- hydratesSupplies water to
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- supplesMakes flexible or pliant
- smoothsEliminates roughness or wrinkles
loosens · melts · thaws · dissolves · plumps · relaxes · saturates · soaks
Lessens in brightness
- mutesSilences or softens
- dullsReduces sharpness or intensity
- fadesGrows gradually weaker
- blursMakes indistinct
diffuses · filters · veils · shades · subdues · quiets · hushes · lowers
alleviates
Reduces severity of
reduces · diminishes · moderates · relieves · abates · smooths · facilitates · loosens · cushions · buffers
appeases
Satisfies to prevent conflict
disarms · defuses · conciliates · reconciles · soothes · gentles · mellows · sweetens · thaws · warms
moisturizes
Adds water to skin
- hydratesSupplies water to
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- supplesMakes flexible or pliant
smooths · loosens · melts · thaws · dissolves · plumps · relaxes · saturates · soaks · dampens
dims
Lessens in brightness
blurs · diffuses · filters · veils · shades · subdues · quiets · hushes · lowers · gentles
feathers
Bird's lightweight covering
- transitionsMovements between states
- fadesGrows gradually weaker
- smudgesUnclear dirty marks
blurs · diffuses · merges · shades · vignettes · airbrushing · blending · stippling · hatching · layering
marinates
Steeps in seasoned liquid
- brinesSalt-saturated waters
- poundsMass measurement units
- tenderizesMakes meat less tough
denatures · enzymes · papain · bromelain · cures · ages · scores · macerates · meat · collagen
softenshardens
Becomes firm or solid
solidifies · stiffens · coagulates · sets · crystallizes
softensintensifies
Increases in strength
exacerbates · heightens · amplifies · sharpens · aggravates
- soften the blowReduce harshness of bad news
- stool softenersDrugs easing hard evacuation
- fabric softenerLaundry additive for softness
- soften upReduce resistance gradually
- water softenerIon-exchange filtration system
- softening upReducing resistance gradually
soften, softened, softening, softer, softest, softener, softeners, soften up