soften

柔らかくする、柔らかくなる

物を柔らかくする、または物が柔らかくなる。

やさしい英語で： 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.

反対語： harden

よく使う表現： soften butter, soften the leather, soften the skin

和らげる

言葉、音、感情、行動の強さや厳しさ、不快さを弱める。

やさしい英語で： 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.

類義語： ease, moderate, tone down

反対語： intensify

よく使う表現： soften the blow, soften your tone, soften the criticism

弱らせる、士気をくじく

相手の自信や抵抗力を弱め、倒したり説得したりしやすくする。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： soften someone up (The bombardment was intended to soften the enemy up.)

類義語： weaken, wear down

反対語： strengthen

よく使う表現： soften someone up, soften the enemy