leaven

“Weapons” has something for everyone: jump scares for horrorphiles, nods to classics like “Rashomon” and “Magnolia” for film buffs, and more than a few laughs to leaven the tension.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025

That’s in keeping with a director who likes to leaven something profound with something ordinary.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024

I also used to leaven the proceedings with humor.

From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2024

She tries to leaven that determination by arguing that Congress would be unlikely to pass one.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2024

For one thing, any hopes my father may have had that to meet the General in person would arouse a sense of respect or sympathy to leaven his feelings against him proved without foundation.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

The film leavens its comprehensive pessimism only through the shimmering brilliance of its execution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026

Whether the songs are presented in their orchestral splendor or as frenetic electronica, each needle drop leavens the natural comedy of John’s frantic awkwardness or captures his chronic sorrow.

From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2025

The yeast is tolerant of this acidic environment, and it ferments carbohydrates other than maltose to produce the carbon dioxide that leavens the bread.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 1, 2023

Pépin leavens his memoir with dozens of chicken and egg recipes, offhandedly told and casually inserted into the text.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 6, 2022

Know ye not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7Cleanse out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened.

From The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The common English version, corrected by the final committee of the American Bible Union. by American Bible Union

The 65-year-old came to court in downtown Los Angeles for closing arguments this month in one of the biggest trials of his career, armed with a parable of leavened bread.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026

Closely cropped and dramatically lighted, the tight composition gives the familiar scene a new immediacy and intimacy, leavened by the playful interaction of the Christ child and St. John.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

In person, “Baltimore’s practiced elegance frames a fierce pride and a sometimes brutal intellect, softened only by his insistence that professional criticism be leavened by personal respect.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2025

The most significant missing piece is the prevalent wry humor that leavened “Mare” in its darkest moments.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2025

He had spent the first half of third grade under the tutelage of a teacher named Mr. Carbine, who had leavened the civics lessons with fun facts about presidents.

From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman

The natural leavening gives them a lighter, crispier crust and an airy, mildly tangy crumb.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

Seven years after her father’s disappearance, Diamond Newberry and her mother are struggling, but Diamond’s observations provide comic leavening.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2024

The friend suggested leavening the dough in his mine.

From New York Times ● Aug. 20, 2022

Her story's fantastical tone aligns with her bright imagination, leavening its approach with the bubbly spirit of a dreamer suddenly able to make her superhero fantasies real.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2022

Made without salt, spices, leavening, or preservatives, masa must be cooked within a few hours of being ground, and the tortilla should be eaten soon after it is cooked.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann