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

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

Word forms

more softened comparative, most softened superlative

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

Rhymes for softened

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

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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.