adjective

softened

SO-fuhnd

adjective

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 notes

In 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

more softened comparative, most softened superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

She used a _____ tone when she gave the bad news.

opened awakened unopened hardened darkened sickened weakened burdened loosened flattened sweetened sharpened