Adjective softening has 1 sense
  1. demulcent, emollient, salving, softening - having a softening or soothing effect especially to the skin
    Antonym: hard (indirect, via soft)
,Noun softening has 1 sense
  1. softening - the process of becoming softer; "refrigeration delayed the softening of the fruit"; "he observed the softening of iron by heat"
    --1 is a kind of
    natural process, natural action, action, activity
    --1 has particulars: maceration
    Derived forms: verb soften6, verb soften7
,Verb soften has 7 senses
  1. soften - make (images or sounds) soft or softer
    --1 is one way to
    change intensity
    Antonyms: sharpen
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
  2. dampen, damp, soften, weaken, break - lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall"
    --2 is one way to deaden, blunt
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something
  3. yield, relent, soften - give in, as to influence or pressure
    Sample sentence:
    Sam and Sue soften
  4. cushion, buffer, soften - protect from impact; "cushion the blow"
    --4 is one way to modify
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s something
  5. mince, soften, moderate - make less severe or harsh; "He moderated his tone when the students burst out in tears"
    --5 is one way to change, alter, modify
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s something
  6. soften - make soft or softer; "This liquid will soften your laundry"
    --6 is one way to
    change, alter, modify
    Antonyms: harden, indurate
    Derived forms: noun softener1, noun softening1
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
  7. soften - become soft or softer; "The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it"
    --7 is one way to
    change
    Antonyms: harden, indurate
    Derived form: noun softening1
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
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