v. 25B6; verb
he tried to soften the blow of new taxes : ALLEVIATE, ease, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, assuage, cushion, moderate, mitigate, palliate, diminish, blunt, deaden.
the winds softened : DIE DOWN, abate, subside, moderate, let up, calm, diminish, slacken, weaken.
25A0; soften someone up CHARM, win over, persuade, influence, weaken, disarm, sweeten; informal butter up, soft-soap.