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Definitions

soften up

VERB
inveigle
Synonyms
STRONG
allure bait bamboozle beguile blandish cajole charm coax con decoy ensnare entrap hook influence jolly lure maneuver massage oil persuade seduce snow soft-soap stroke tempt urge wheedle
WEAK
egg on get around lay it on thick lead on play up to rope in string along sweet-talk work over
Antonyms
STRONG
be honest disenchant dissuade
VERB
pander
Synonyms
STRONG
cajole gratify massage please satisfy snow soap stroke
WEAK
brown-nose fall all over lay it on play the game play up to politic suck up to
Antonyms
STRONG
anger annoy disappoint disturb frustrate upset
WEAK
deny dissatisfy refuse
VERB
sugarcoat
Synonyms
STRONG
alleviate mollify pacify soothe
WEAK
add sugar add sweetening candy-coat make more appealing make sweet
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate incite upset worry
VERB
sway
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dominate impress inspire overrule persuade
STRONG
bias brainwash carry conduct control crack direct dispose get govern guide hook incline induce manage move predispose reign rule sell strike touch
WEAK
hold sway over impact on lead by the nose prevail on put across rule over suck in turn one's head twist one's arm win over work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
discourage dissuade
STRONG
misguide mislead neglect serve
WEAK
leave alone
VERB
sweeten
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate
STRONG
assuage conciliate honey mollify pacify placate propitiate soothe
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate incite upset worry
WEAK
displease disrupt trouble
VERB
wheedle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cajole finagle
STRONG
banter blandish charm coax con court draw entice flatter inveigle kowtow oil persuade seduce snow soap soft-soap sweet-talk worm
WEAK
butter up lay it on spread it on sweeten up work on
Antonyms
STRONG
dissuade

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The scariest thing for the rest of the NFL is that these Seahawks might not soften up anytime soon.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

That could be because UnitedHealth did not actually soften up.

From Slate • May 14, 2025

The guards, visibly tense during the period in the house, seemed to soften up once they had made it into the tunnel.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2023

When you show up repeatedly, and you ask questions in good faith and show curiosity, people soften up and some of their initial skepticism starts to evolve.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2023

Ms. Washington gave me a minute to soften up and give in, because she didn’t know about my heart and its resolution, and that she was dealing with a mighty and unbending will.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.