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Soften vs Overcome - What's the difference?

soften | overcome | Related terms |

Soften is a related term of overcome.


As verbs the difference between soften and overcome

is that soften is to make something soft or softer while overcome is to surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.

soften

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To make something soft or softer.
  • Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.
  • To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up ).
  • Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.
  • To make less harsh
  • Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.
  • * '>citation
  • To become soft or softer
  • The butter softened as it warmed up.

    overcome

    English

    Verb

  • To surmount (a physical or abstract obstacle); to prevail over, to get the better of.
  • :to overcome enemies in battle
  • *Spenser
  • *:This wretched woman overcome / Of anguish, rather than of crime, hath been.
  • *1898 , , (Moonfleet), Ch.4:
  • *:By and by fumes of brandy began to fill the air, and climb to where I lay, overcoming the mouldy smell of decayed wood and the dampness of the green walls.
  • (obsolete) To win (a battle).
  • *:
  • *:Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fewe peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille
  • To win or prevail in some sort of battle, contest, etc.
  • :
  • *
  • , chapter=2, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired. And if the arts of humbleness failed him, he overcame you by sheer impudence.}}
  • (usually in passive) To overwhelm with emotion.
  • :
  • To come or pass over; to spread over.
  • *Shakespeare
  • *:And overcome us like a summer's cloud.
  • To overflow; to surcharge.
  • :
  • References

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