as in softened
to lessen the shock of
a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job
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Recent Examples of cushioned
The three-pointer, off a turnover by Tennessee (10-4, 0-1), cushioned Arkansas' lead to 76-68 with three minutes left.
—
Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 5 Jan. 2026
The soft and cushioned bath mat comes in three elegant, muted colors (alabaster, clay, and eucalyptus) and doesn’t fade or lose its shape after washing.
—Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2026
Hoka’s beloved Anacapa Low GTX was rising to the top with reviews for those with plantar fasciitis who needed a supportive and cushioned light-weight hiking sneaker.
—The Editors, Outside, 31 Dec. 2025
Now through Monday, January 5, Nordstrom’s shelves are overflowing with comfy, cushioned, and travel-friendly styles from brands that rarely offer discounts, including Hoka, Birkenstock, Ugg, and more.
—Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
The saddle is well-cushioned, the bars offer a neutral upright posture, and the rubber grips are comfortable.
—New Atlas, 18 Dec. 2025
The data from their sensors is already starting to get crunched, revealing how effectively the car cushioned them from the force of the collision.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
Without any subsidy, they will not be cushioned from the full costs of premiums.
—Sarah Volpenhein, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025
The sleek, stylish, and softly cushioned Sonos Ace Headphones in black are now discounted by $97, and that's music to our ears.
—PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushioned
softened
Verb
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An Educational Tool As Wikipedia’s use grew, some educators softened their stance, encouraging its use to find leads to sources that students could dig into directly.—
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Add onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes.—
Cite this Entry
“Cushioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushioned. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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