Dictionary entry details
• SOFTEN (verb)
Meaning:
Make (images or sounds) soft or softer
Classified under:
Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
change intensity (increase or decrease in intensity)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):
damp; dampen; dull; muffle; mute; tone down (deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Antonym:
sharpen (make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper)
Meaning:
Lessen in force or effect
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
soften; damp; weaken; dampen; break
Context examples:
soften a shock / break a fall
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
blunt; deaden (make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):
deafen (make soundproof)
damp; dampen; deaden (make vague or obscure or make (an image) less visible)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Give in, as to influence or pressure
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
relent; soften; yield
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):
truckle (yield to out of weakness)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sentence example:
Sam and Sue soften
Meaning:
Protect from impact
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
cushion; buffer; soften
Context example:
cushion the blow
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Make less severe or harsh
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
mince; moderate; soften
Context example:
He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Make soft or softer
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
This liquid will soften your laundry
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Cause:
soften (become soft or softer)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):
mellow (soften, make mellow)
mollify (make less rigid or softer)
macerate (soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Antonym:
harden (make hard or harder)
Meaning:
Become soft or softer
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it
Hypernyms (to "soften" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "soften"):
mellow (make or grow (more) mellow)
macerate (become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Antonym:
harden (become hard or harder)
