adjective
Uncommon
softened
SO-fuhnd
Softened (adjective) means Made less hard, harsh, or intense. Example: “She used a softened tone when she gave the bad news.”
adjective
1
Made less hard, harsh, or intense.
"She used a softened tone when she gave the bad news."
"The softened butter spread easily on the warm toast."
How to use softened
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that has been made gentler, less harsh, or less firm than it was before.
Common pairings
softened tone
softened butter
softened blow
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more softened
- Superlative
- most softened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She used a _____ tone when she gave the bad news.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for softened
opened
saddened
awakened
unopened
hardened
darkened
sickened
weakened
burdened
loosened
flattened
sweetened
See all rhymes for softened →
Frequently asked questions
What does “softened” mean?
The word “softened” means made less hard, harsh, or intense. In plain terms, describes something that has been made gentler, less harsh, or less firm than it was before.
How do you pronounce “softened”?
“Softened” is pronounced SO-fuhnd (/ˈsɔfənd/ in IPA).
How do you use “softened” in a sentence?
Here is “softened” used in a sentence: “She used a softened tone when she gave the bad news.”
What part of speech is “softened”?
“Softened” is an adjective.
Is “softened” a common word?
“Softened” is an uncommon word in modern English.
