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Definitions

soften up

VERB

inveigle

Synonyms

STRONG

allure bait bamboozle beguile blandish cajole charm coax con decoy ensnare entrap hook influence jolly lure maneuver massage oil persuade seduce snow soft-soap stroke tempt urge wheedle

WEAK

egg on get around lay it on thick lead on play up to rope in string along sweet-talk work over

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest disenchant dissuade

VERB

pander

Synonyms

STRONG

cajole gratify massage please satisfy snow soap stroke

WEAK

brown-nose fall all over lay it on play the game play up to politic suck up to

Antonyms

STRONG

anger annoy disappoint disturb frustrate upset

WEAK

deny dissatisfy refuse

VERB

sugarcoat

Synonyms

STRONG

alleviate mollify pacify soothe

WEAK

add sugar add sweetening candy-coat make more appealing make sweet

Antonyms

STRONG

agitate incite upset worry

VERB

sway

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dominate impress inspire overrule persuade

STRONG

bias brainwash carry conduct control crack direct dispose get govern guide hook incline induce manage move predispose reign rule sell strike touch

WEAK

hold sway over impact on lead by the nose prevail on put across rule over suck in turn one's head twist one's arm win over work on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

discourage dissuade

STRONG

misguide mislead neglect serve

WEAK

leave alone

VERB

sweeten

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate

STRONG

assuage conciliate honey mollify pacify placate propitiate soothe

Antonyms

STRONG

agitate incite upset worry

WEAK

displease disrupt trouble

VERB

wheedle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cajole finagle

STRONG

banter blandish charm coax con court draw entice flatter inveigle kowtow oil persuade seduce snow soap soft-soap sweet-talk worm

WEAK

butter up lay it on spread it on sweeten up work on

Antonyms

STRONG

dissuade

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.

The scariest thing for the rest of the NFL is that these Seahawks might not soften up anytime soon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

That could be because UnitedHealth did not actually soften up.

From Slate • May 14, 2025

The guards, visibly tense during the period in the house, seemed to soften up once they had made it into the tunnel.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

When you show up repeatedly, and you ask questions in good faith and show curiosity, people soften up and some of their initial skepticism starts to evolve.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2023

Ms. Washington gave me a minute to soften up and give in, because she didn’t know about my heart and its resolution, and that she was dealing with a mighty and unbending will.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

soften up

Example Sentences

Related Words