Soften vs Dampen - What's the difference?
soften | dampen | Related terms |
To make something soft or softer.
To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up ).
To make less harsh
* '>citation
To become soft or softer
To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.
To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.
* The Century
* 2007 October 16, Jane E. Brody, “Despite Strides, Listeria Needs Vigilance”, ,
To become damp; to deaden.
In transitive terms the difference between soften and dampen
is that soften is to make less harsh while dampen is to depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.In intransitive terms the difference between soften and dampen
is that soften is to become soft or softer while dampen is to become damp; to deaden.soften
English
Verb
(en verb)- Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.
- Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.
- Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.
- The butter softened as it warmed up.
See also
* mollify * neshen English ergative verbs English intransitive verbs English transitive verbsdampen
English
Verb
(en verb)- In a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm.
- Pregnant women are 20 times as likely as other healthy young women to contract listeriosis, probably because in pregnancy the immune system is dampened to prevent rejection of the fetus.
