# soften

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈsɒfən/ · frequency rank #18,188

## Definitions
1. To make something soft or softer.
2. To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
3. To make less harsh.
4. To become soft or softer.
5. To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.
6. To palatalize.

## Etymology
From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en.

## Easily confused with
- **sorted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soften-vs-sorted)
- **softly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soften-vs-softly)
- **softened** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soften-vs-softened)
- **soft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soft-vs-soften)
- **sifted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sifted-vs-soften)
- **shorten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shorten-vs-soften)

## Common misspellings (9)
`osften`, `sfoten`, `sofetn`, `sofften`, `softenn`, `softne`, `softten`, `sotfen`, `ssoften`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/soften