Softened — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈsȯ-fən/ soft·en

Meaning & Definition of Softened

Softened (verb)

  1. to make soft or softer
  2. to weaken the military resistance or the morale of especially by harassment (such as preliminary bombardment) —often used with up
  3. to impair the strength or resistance of —often used with up
  4. to treat (someone) very well or kindly in order to make that person more likely to help one, give one something, etc.
  5. to weaken (an enemy) through military attacks

Softened (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking bodily strength

    "the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch"

    similar: asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, tender, unsubstantial, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpish, wimpy
    related: disabled, incapacitated, invalid, paralyzed, broken-down, decrepit, impotent, powerless, breakable, flimsy, fragile, dizzy, groggy, rocky, unsteady, woozy, drained, exhausted, flagging, tired, weary, worn-out, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, unsound, resistless, susceptible, unresistant, vulnerable, yielding
    opposite: mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong
    near: able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, fit, husky, muscular, sinewy, strapping, virile, hard, hardy, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sturdy, tough, fortified, hardened, inured, strengthened, toughened, energetic, energized, invigorated, vigorous, vitalized, hale, healthy, sound, capable, competent, convalescing, recovering, recuperating

Softened (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to diminish the physical strength of

    "three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her"

    similar: debilitated, devitalized, enervated, enfeebled, etiolated, prostrated, sapped, tired, wasted, weakened
    related: crippled, disabled, hamstrung, incapacitated, depleted, depressed, exhausted, impoverished, unmanned, washed out, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, invalided, laid up, broke down, ground (down), wore down, wore out, paralyzed
    opposite: beefed (up), fortified, strengthened
    near: energized, invigorated, recruited, rejuvenated, vitalized, hardened, seasoned, toughened

  2. to lessen the shock of

    "had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal"

    similar: buffered, cushioned, gentled
    related: baffled, dampened, deadened, dulled, obtunded, moderated, modulated, tempered, allayed, alleviated, assuaged, eased, lightened, mitigated, relieved
    near: heightened, intensified, sharpened

Related Entry: Soften (verb)

Soften is a different word from Softened. The synonyms below are for soften, not for softened.

  1. to diminish the physical strength of

    "three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her"

    similar: debilitate, devitalize, enervate, enfeeble, etiolate, prostrate, sap, tire, waste, weaken
    related: cripple, disable, hamstring, incapacitate, deplete, depress, exhaust, impoverish, unman, wash out, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, invalid, lay up, break down, grind (down), wear down, wear out, paralyze
    opposite: beef (up), fortify, strengthen
    near: energize, invigorate, recruit, rejuvenate, vitalize, harden, season, toughen

  2. to lessen the shock of

    "had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal"

    similar: buffer, cushion, gentle
    related: baffle, dampen, deaden, dull, obtund, moderate, modulate, temper, allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lighten, mitigate, relieve
    near: heighten, intensify, sharpen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Softened

The most common words with a similar meaning to Softened:

asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble, frail, infirm, languid, low, prostrate, prostrated, sapped, slight, soft, tender, unsubstantial, wasted, weak, weakened, wimpish, wimpy, devitalized, etiolated, tired, buffered, cushioned, gentled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Softened

Words with the opposite meaning of Softened:

mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, beefed (up), fortified, strengthened

Related Words for Softened

disabled, incapacitated, invalid, paralyzed, broken-down, decrepit, impotent, powerless, breakable, flimsy, fragile, dizzy, groggy, rocky, unsteady, woozy, drained, exhausted, flagging, weary, worn-out, damaged, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, unsound, resistless, susceptible, unresistant

Near Antonyms of Softened

able-bodied, athletic, beefy, brawny, fit, husky, muscular, sinewy, strapping, virile, hard, hardy, lusty, red-blooded, robust, sturdy, tough, hardened, inured, toughened, energetic, energized, invigorated, vigorous, vitalized, hale, healthy, sound, capable, competent

Word Forms of Softened

Inflections: softening, softened up, softening up, softens up

Derived words: softener (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Softened

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Softened

What does "Softened" mean?

"Softened" means to make soft or softer. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make soft or softer. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Softened"?

Other words for "Softened" include asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled and faint. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Softened" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Softened"?

There are 91 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Softened". Common alternatives include asthenic, debilitated, delicate, down-and-out, effete, enervated, enfeebled, faint, feeble and frail.

What is the opposite of "Softened"?

Antonyms of "Softened" include mighty, powerful, rugged, stalwart, stout, strong, beefed (up) and fortified. Near antonyms include able-bodied, athletic, beefy and brawny.

How do you use "Softened" in a sentence?

Examples of "Softened" in a sentence: "the athlete, softened by the long period of convalescence, had to begin his training program almost from scratch"; "three weeks of being sick in bed had noticeably softened her"; "had tried to soften the blow of her rejection to his marriage proposal".

Is "Softened" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Softened" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Softened"?

"Softened" is pronounced /ˈsȯ-fən/ and divided into syllables as soft·en.

What is the origin of the word "Softened"?

First known use: 14th centuryt.