v. t. | 1. | To make soft or more soft. |
2. | To render less hard; - said of matter. | |
3. | To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable. | |
4. | To palliate; to represent as less enormous; | |
5. | To compose; to mitigate; to assuage. | |
6. | To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality. | |
7. | To make less glaring; to tone down; | |
8. | To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; | |
9. | To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; | |
v. i. | 1. | To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate. |
Verb | 1. | soften - make (images or sounds) soft or softer Antonyms: sharpen - make (images or sounds) sharp or sharper |
2. | soften - lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall" | |
3. | soften - give in, as to influence or pressure | |
4. | soften - protect from impact; "cushion the blow" | |
5. | soften - make less severe or harsh; "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears" | |
6. | soften - make soft or softer; "This liquid will soften your laundry" | |
7. | soften - become soft or softer; "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it" |