soften

v., -ened, -en·ing, -ens.

v.tr.

1. To make soft or softer.
2. To undermine or reduce the strength, morale, or resistance of.
3. To make less harsh, strident, or critical: softened the last paragraph of the letter.

v.intr.
To become soft or softer.

softener soft'en·er n.

verb

1. To moderate or change a position or course of action as a result of pressure: ease off, relent, slacken, weaken, yield. Idioms: givewayground. See strong/weak.
2. To make or become less severe or extreme: moderate, mute, qualify, subdue, tame, temper, tone down. See increase/decrease.
3. To ease the anger or agitation of: appease, assuage, calm (down), conciliate, dulcify, gentle, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, soothe, sweeten. Idioms: pour oil on troubled water. See calm/agitation.

v

Definition: calm, soothe
Antonyms: irritate, trouble, upset, worry

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v. undermine the resistance of (someone): the blockade appears a better weapon with which to soften them up for eventual surrender.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A change of consistency, with loss of firmness or hardness.

IN BRIEF: To make or become less hard or rough. Also: To lessen the strength of.

There is no grief which time does not lessen and soften. — Cicero (106-43 BC).

Soften

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - blødgøre, formilde, mildne, gøre blød, udbløde
v. intr. - blive blødgjort, formildes, mildnes, blive blød

idioms:

• soften up    blødgøre, gøre mør

Nederlands (Dutch)
verzachten, zacht worden/maken, vertederen, dempen

Français (French)
v. tr. - amollir, adoucir, (fig) atténuer, assouplir (une approche), minimiser (un fait), baisser (la musique), adoucir (des contours)
v. intr. - s'adoucir, se ramollir, (fig) s'assouplir, (Écon) fléchir

idioms:

• soften up    amollir, (fig) affaiblir, attendrir

Deutsch (German)
v. - weicher werden, dämpfen, mildern, enthärten

idioms:

• soften up    weich werden, milder stimmen, zermürben

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - μαλακώνω, απαλύνω/-ομαι, αμβλύνω/-ομαι

idioms:

• soften up    μαλακώνω την αντίσταση (κάποιου), μεταπείθω

Italiano (Italian)
ammorbidire, intenerire, attutire

idioms:

• soften up    lusingare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - enternecer, amaciar, efeminar-se, comover

idioms:

• soften up    comover-se, efeminar-se

Русский (Russian)
успокаивать, облегчать, успокаиваться, смягчаться, плавить

idioms:

• soften up    обработать (кого-л.), смягчить или сломить (чье-л. сопротивление)

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - enternecer, conmover, amortiguar, ablandar, reblandecer, dulcificar, mitigar, templar, suavizar, bajar (la voz), enervar, debilitar, afeminar
v. intr. - ablandarse, reblandecerse, dulcificarse, templarse, aplacarse, enervarse, debilitarse

idioms:

• soften up    ablandarse, ser más flexible

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - mjuka upp, göra mör, dämpa, försvaga, mjukna, avhärda

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
使变柔软, 使变和蔼, 变柔和, 变弱

idioms:

• soften up    使软化

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 使變柔軟, 使變和藹
v. intr. - 變柔和, 變弱

idioms:

• soften up    使軟化

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 부드럽게 하다, ~의 마음을 온화하게 하다, (의욕을) 꺾다
v. intr. - 부드러워지다, 상냥해지다, (상황이) 쇠퇴하다

idioms:

• soften up    저항력을 약화시키다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 柔らかにする, 和らげる, 穏やかにする, 柔らかになる, 優しくなる, 柔らかくする

idioms:

• soften up    抵抗力を弱める, 説いて抵抗を弱める

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يلين أو يضعف, يخفت, يخفف وهج ألنور‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮ריכך‬
v. intr. - ‮התרכך‬

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