soften

To make something less hard, or to become less hard.

• Warm water will soften the clay.
• The butter softened on the kitchen counter.
• Cook the onions until they soften.

Opposites: harden

Common phrases: soften butter, soften the leather, soften the skin

To make words, sounds, feelings, or actions less strong, severe, or unpleasant.

• She softened her voice.
• He tried to soften the criticism with a smile.
• The extra payment softened the blow of losing her job.

Similar words: ease, moderate, tone down

Opposites: intensify

Common phrases: soften the blow, soften your tone, soften the criticism

To weaken someone's confidence or resistance so they are easier to defeat or persuade.

• The attacks softened the enemy's resistance.
• They used constant pressure to soften the prisoners up.
• Weeks of bombing had softened up the defending troops.

How to use it: soften someone up (The bombardment was intended to soften the enemy up.)

Similar words: weaken, wear down

Opposites: strengthen

Common phrases: soften someone up, soften the enemy