soften Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make (images or sounds) soft or softer
  2. verb lessen in force or effect
    break; damp; weaken; dampen.
    • soften a shock
    • break a fall
  3. verb give in, as to influence or pressure
    relent; yield.
  4. verb protect from impact
    buffer; cushion.
    • cushion the blow
  5. verb make less severe or harsh
    moderate; mince.
    • He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears
  6. verb make soft or softer
    • This liquid will soften your laundry
  7. verb become soft or softer
    • The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it

WordNet

Sof"ten transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Softened ; present participle & verbal noun Softening
Definitions
  1. To make soft or more soft. Specifically: -- (a) To render less hard; -- said of matter.
    Their arrow's point they soften in the flame. Gay.
    (b) To mollify; to make less fierce or intractable.
    Diffidence conciliates the proud, and softens the severe. Rambler.
    (c) To palliate; to represent as less enormous; as, to soften a fault. (d) To compose; to mitigate; to assuage.
    Music can soften pain to ease. Pope.
    (e) To make calm and placid.
    All that cheers or softens life. Pope.
    (f) To make less harsh, less rude, less offensive, or less violent, or to render of an opposite quality.
    He bore his great commision in his look, But tempered awe, and softened all he spoke. Dryden.
    (g) To make less glaring; to tone down; as, to soften the coloring of a picture. (h) To make tender; to make effeminate; to enervate; as, troops softened by luxury. weaken (i) To make less harsh or grating, or of a quality the opposite; as, to soften the voice.
Sof"ten intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become soft or softened, or less rude, harsh, severe, or obdurate.

Webster 1913