[verb]The news will upset him - we must think of a way to soften the blow (= make the news less unpleasant for him). [T]Would you say the government's stance on law and order has softened? [I]She tried to soften up (= persuade) her sister by buying her some chocolates.
SOFTEN
Meaning of SOFTEN in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012