Pronunciation: /ˈsɔfən/
verb to make or become less hard or severe
A1 I use fabric softener to soften my clothes.
A2 Adding a bit of water can help soften the dough.
B1 He tried to soften the blow by offering her a gift.
B2 The company decided to soften their stance on remote work.
C1 The politician's apology did little to soften the public's anger.
C2 Her kind words helped to soften the tension in the room.
adverb softly
A1 She spoke softly to the baby to help him sleep.
A2 He gently tried to soften the blow by offering her a tissue.
B1 The manager tried to soften the impact of the bad news by offering a solution.
B2 The company decided to soften their stance on remote work to accommodate employee preferences.
C1 The government's new policy aims to soften the impact of rising inflation on low-income families.
C2 The CEO's decision to soften the company's approach to customer feedback led to increased satisfaction and loyalty.
formal The company is working on a new formula to soften the texture of their fabric softener.
informal I like to use conditioner to help soften my hair.
slang I need to chill out and soften up a bit.
figurative Sometimes, a kind word can soften even the hardest of hearts.
softened
softens
softer
softest
soften
will soften
has softened
is softening
soften
soft
to soften
softening
softened