softened

ADJECTIVE

dull

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cloudy cold dark dim dismal flat hazy lifeless muddy muted obscure soft somber subdued

STRONG

black blind dun faded low matte muffled overcast plain sober

WEAK

ashen colorless dead dingy dusky feeble grimy indistinct leaden mousy murky opaque shadowy sooty subfusc toned-down unlit

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apparent bright brilliant cheerful clear distinct excited good happy hopeful intelligent light rough smart visible

WEAK

active eventful exciting interesting keen knifelike lively luminous lustrous pointed quick sensitive serrated sharp vivacious witty

ADJECTIVE

euphemistic

Synonyms

STRONG

inoffensive

WEAK

affected delicate euphemious extenuative figurative indirect metaphorical mild refined vague

ADJECTIVE

faint

Synonyms

STRONGEST

delicate dim distant dull far-off gentle hazy inaudible mild muffled muted remote slight soft soothing stifled vague weak

STRONG

aside bated bleached blurred deadened deep faded faltering hushed light low moderate murmuring muttering obscure padded pale piano quiet smooth subdued thin wan whispered

WEAK

bland breathless dusty epicene feeble hoarse ill-defined imperceptible indistinct lenient low-pitched out of earshot shadowy tenuous unclear

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright certain clear close definite distinct firm friendly harsh healthy intelligent loud near nearby rough sharp smart strong sure thick violent warm

STRONG

boisterous colorful heavy uncontrolled

WEAK

bold brave courageous resolute

ADJECTIVE

low-key

Synonyms

STRONGEST

easygoing laid-back muted quiet relaxed restrained sober subtle understated

WEAK

loose low-pitched muffled played down soft-sell toned-down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agitated noisy

WEAK

energized high-key high-strung histrionic nervous pumped-up

ADJECTIVE

mashed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

smashed

STRONG

battered brewed chewed decocted hashed infused macerated masticated mixed pounded pressed pulped pulverized reduced squashed steeped

WEAK

doughy pasty pulpy spongy

ADJECTIVE

mellowed

Synonyms

STRONG

developed matured ripened

WEAK

ripe

ADJECTIVE

relieved

Synonyms

STRONGEST

diminished

STRONG

abated allayed alleviated anesthetized assuaged eased lightened mitigated palliated salved soothed

Antonyms

WEAK

distraught sad worried

ADJECTIVE

sorry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apologetic contrite regretful remorseful touched

WEAK

attritional compunctious conscience-stricken guilt-ridden melted penitent penitential repentant self-accusing self-condemnatory self-reproachful shamefaced

Antonyms

WEAK

unremorseful unsorry

ADJECTIVE

subdued

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hushed low-key mellow muted restrained sober solemn unobtrusive

STRONG

chastened dejected dim domesticated grave moderated repressed shaded tempered

WEAK

crestfallen domestic down in the mouth downcast inobtrusive neutral out of spirits repentant sad serious soft submissive subtle tasteful toned-down

Antonyms

STRONG

cheerful happy

WEAK

aroused boisterous communicative excited roused talkative uncontrolled

ADJECTIVE

touched

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affected disturbed impressed stirred

STRONG

grabbed melted swayed upset

WEAK

turned on by turned on to

Antonyms

WEAK

unemotional unmoved untouched

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the real addition was a can of chickpeas, aquafaba and all, simmered alongside the Arborio until the beans softened and thickened the pot into something deeply creamy and comforting.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who pushed aggressively for rate cuts earlier this year, softened that position in recent weeks, giving Warsh political cover that current Chair Jerome Powell never enjoyed.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

Instead he softened the blow with corporate babble: “You were building the plane while you flew it.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

DeReiss described the nans as "fuming" at first, but the situation quickly softened.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

“I said to you I thought he was softened when I last saw him.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

softened

Example Sentences

Related Words