He tried to soften the blow by delivering the bad news gently.
soften the mood
Frequency:
65
%
She told a joke to soften the mood in the room.
soften the skin
Frequency:
60
%
Applying lotion regularly can help soften the skin.
soften the edges
Frequency:
45
%
She used sandpaper to soften the edges of the wooden table.
Idiomatic Expressions for soften
Phrase: soften someone up
Meaning: to make someone more friendly or cooperative by being kind or persuasive
Usage: I tried to soften him up before asking for a favor.