What does soften mean?
To soften is to make something gentler, less severe, or less intense, or to become gentler in that way. The word is especially common for physical materials, as when heat softens butter or pressure softens a hardened substance. It also describes emotional and social changes: a speaker may soften their tone, someone may soften their criticism, or bad news may soften the blow of disappointment. In these figurative uses, 'soften' often suggests reducing harshness rather than eliminating the underlying problem. The verb is standard in British and American English and can function transitively or intransitively, as in 'She softened the argument' and 'His expression softened.'
verbTo make something less hard, harsh, severe, or intense. To become less hard, harsh, severe, or intense.
- To make a material or substance less hard or firm.
- To reduce the severity, harshness, or intensity of an experience, feeling, or effect.
- To become less hard, severe, or intense.
"The rain softened the harsh lines of the old stone buildings."
"The heat softened the butter."
"She softened her criticism after hearing his explanation."
"His voice softened as he realized how tired she was."
To soften something is to make it gentler without removing its basic nature: an opinion can soften, a voice can soften, and even a material can yield to pressure.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does soften come from?
The word comes from the adjective 'soft,' which descended from Old English 'sōfte,' related to words in several Germanic languages meaning soft or gentle. The verb developed in the Middle English period by adding the suffix '-en' to the adjective. The related forms 'softness' and 'softly' continue the same family, while the expression 'soften the blow' reflects the verb's long-standing figurative use for reducing the force of an unpleasant event.
Related word forms
How soften is actually used
The word is common in both formal and informal contexts. It can describe physical changes, reductions in severity, and changes in tone or emotional intensity. In the sense of reducing a person's anger or distress, it is often less specific than 'assuage.'
Easily confused with soften
Soften means to make something less hard, severe, or intense, while soften as a noun is not a standard English word.
Soften can refer to reducing the intensity or severity of an effect, whereas assuage more specifically means to relieve pain, grief, or anger.