| 单词 | soften |
| 例句 | Another day I praised her needlework, thinking that flattery would soften her. Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z Felicia, her face softening, looks down at her son. Dreaming in Cuban 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z A proud grin came on his face and his tone softened. Cold Sassy Tree 1984-11-02T00:00:00Z She imagined his thick lips moving like warm, softened rubber. Dreaming in Cuban 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z But no advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer. 1984 1949-06-08T00:00:00Z To soften their glare, veils had been thrown over the shades. Homeless Bird 2000-03-01T00:00:00Z We dip our cookies in the hot tea, and they soften and taste delicious. Lucky Broken Girl 2017-04-11T00:00:00Z It has only been a week, but he feels that he is becoming heavier, rounder, softening in this country of New York. American Gods 2011-06-21T00:00:00Z Railroad Tommy’s eyes softened, but the merriment in them died suddenly. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z The boy seemed to soften and calm down. 100 Sideways Miles 2014-09-02T00:00:00Z Then her face softened and she kissed Fadi on the tip of his nose. Shooting Kabul 2010-06-22T00:00:00Z She is standing there trying to think of a way to soften the news. Shouting at the Rain 2019-05-07T00:00:00Z Something in her tone softened him, and he said at last, “She is in the stables.” Ash 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z It softened, and the tissues turned into jelly, even if you put it in a refrigerator to keep it cold. The Hot Zone 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z It was on a windy morning that I made a fire to soften the pitch. Island of the Blue Dolphins 1960-01-01T00:00:00Z I try to soften my voice, but it doesn’t work. Divergent 2011-04-25T00:00:00Z The shiny, sparkling material of Didu's saris softens the walls and ceilings. You Bring the Distant Near 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z Down softened the sharp lines of her thin, angular arms. The God of Small Things 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z Her face softened a bit when I agreed with that. Life Is So Good 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z I softened my voice and pleaded, “Please, Papá, it means a lot to me.” Breaking Through 2001-08-27T00:00:00Z Then as she reached for my hand, her face turned toward mine, the last firelight rays of sun softened her wrinkles. A Step from Heaven 2001-04-30T00:00:00Z The faces of the boys change so much, they soften, open up, they ache. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z If the bars were made of wood, the planks would soften and become malleable; when I opened my eyes, the wood would be nothing but chips in a pile, to be used for kindling. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z Milkman softened his tone a bit, but succeeded in keeping the edge of defiance in his voice. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z A child with no descent line would not soften her life but only trail after her, ghostlike, begging her to give it purpose. The Woman Warrior 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z After three nights of gathering around Ma Charles’s table for supper, Vonetta wouldn’t soften. Gone Crazy in Alabama 2015-04-21T00:00:00Z Van Helsing started angrily at the first sound, but his face softened and a glad look came into his eyes as I cried out: “Quincey Morris!” and rushed towards him with outstretched hands. Dracula 1897-05-26T00:00:00Z But there was nothing; her laughter softened the angles of her chin. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z He looked at me harshly, then his eyes softened. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z The doctor’s voice softened then, and he almost whispered to Jeffrey, I’m sorry, buddy. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z But I look at Kwang now, hunched over in his robe, his posture softening. Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z Silly jokes were not going to soften me up. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z He looked at Ma and could see that her bitterness was only sharper in the softening sky. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z Her eyes soften, and the steely, Blackcliff-trained part of me shakes its head. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z It would soften the frozen crust of earth and make it easier for him to dig a grave for Sounder—if he found Sounder. Sounder 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z It softens the lines around her sharp nose and pointed chin. On the Far Side of the Mountain 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z I scrape my spoon against the ice cream, and cookie and fudge goo dribbles down the side because it’s softening quickly in the summer air. Starfish 2017-09-26T00:00:00Z I had not cleared the wax from my ears all summer, hoping it would soften her voice. Fever 1793 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z The colonel’s hostility softened gradually as he applied himself to details. Catch-22 1961-11-10T00:00:00Z The crunched folds around Mrs. Walton’s eyebrows have softened. Like Vanessa 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z The old man realized what I was doing, softened his manner, and finally stamped his document and said quietly, “Welcome to the Sudan.” Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z Her attitude seemed to have softened from hostility to mere distrust. Endangered 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z Ampai's face softened, and even though she wasn't much taller than Pong, she leaned down to look him square in the eyes. A Wish in the Dark 2020-03-24T00:00:00Z It’s hard to tell at first, but then her eyes soften and she smiles. Hello, Universe 2017-03-14T00:00:00Z I suppose it is no secret, however, that my private thoughts of you soften the clutch of combat. Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z She was mad at herself for letting Tiller and Sairy soften them up with their good food and gentle ways. Ruby Holler 2002-02-01T00:00:00Z Only, when the noise of the radio softens and Emmett’s and George’s voices strain, Axel can’t help but dip in and out of their words instead of his own good thoughts. A Bird Will Soar 2021-10-19T00:00:00Z Rain had softened the road, liquid mud came squelching up between my toes as I walked. Nectar in a Sieve 1954-01-01T00:00:00Z The rich smell of the porridge was intoxicating, and its hot mist made a translucent cloud around the woman, softening her many scars. When the Sea Turned to Silver 2016-10-04T00:00:00Z Guitar didn’t smile at the familiar joke, but there was enough recognition of it in his face to soften the glare in his eyes. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z Night was falling and the dark lines of Fruitless Mountain softened in the shadowy sky. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z In deference to the glad occasion, his foot kept the rhythm of the dance and his usually stem mien was softened. Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z “It is no wonder? your skin is so dry. Let me make a liniment that will soften it and ease the pain.” Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z He loved her, she knew, but he lacked a certain strength; his backbone was softened by duty. Americanah 2013-05-14T00:00:00Z His face softened under my hand, and he sighed. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z As Macon felt himself softening under the weight of memory and music, the song died down. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z His expression changed, softened and saddened by the subtle ache in my voice. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z Ivy grinned and all those bats softened into delicate, beautiful butterflies. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World 2018-03-06T00:00:00Z During the warm days when the men went about their business on the floe, the softening ice frequently gave way underfoot, plunging them into cold water up to their waists. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World 1998-11-17T00:00:00Z The light softens and turns the brown land golden. Without Refuge 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z She looked at me for a long moment, then her face softened. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 2010-02-02T00:00:00Z My backpack does little to soften the blow. The Hunger Games 2008-09-14T00:00:00Z I saw Mr. Rochester smile:—his stern features softened; his eye grew both brilliant and gentle, its ray both searching and sweet. Jane Eyre 1847-10-16T00:00:00Z Your heart bleeds into itself; the heart muscle softens and has hemorrhages into its chambers, and blood squeezes out of the heart muscle as the heart beats, and it floods the chest cavity. The Hot Zone 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z I hear him getting closer, his footsteps softening as he walks up the steps. The Adoration of Jenna Fox 2008-04-29T00:00:00Z “We call it the kiss of death,” she shouted, smiling wryly to soften the words. Lyddie 1991-02-01T00:00:00Z Malachite glared at them before softening her face for Redemption. Pet 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z I felt a little shift inside me, a softening. From Twinkle, with Love 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z Wynn offered Nan a seat, and I hoped all this princess treatment was softening her opinion of Hope Springs. Hope Springs 2021-08-10T00:00:00Z Our clothes clung to us, and under our feet the dry dust of the courtyard softened into mud and squeezed up between our toes. Homeless Bird 2000-03-01T00:00:00Z The stew was thick with barley, carrot, and onion, with here and there a ragged shred of salt beef, softened in the cooking. A Clash of Kings 1998-11-16T00:00:00Z On the sandbank she found not one but five of the precious wheels, and passing the cord through their softening centers, she swam heavily back, pulling them behind her. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z Anthills had risen in the newly softened red soil in the yard, like miniature castles. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z The aroma changed when the meat sizzled next to the softened onion. Messenger 2004-04-26T00:00:00Z I pull my glass closer and turn the spoon inside it in slow circles, softening whatever remains at the bottom. Thirteen Reasons Why 2007-10-18T00:00:00Z He handed me a new one for my other palm, eyes still narrowed, but maybe, just maybe, softening at the edges. The Darkest Minds 2012-12-18T00:00:00Z And he knew that she had given it to him today to soften the shock of his mother’s return. Forged by Fire 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z Whitby’s handshake was firm but not forceful, his grip softened by his kidskin gloves. The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z “But I like dorks,” she says to soften the blow. The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin) 2012-08-14T00:00:00Z He softened his expression and lay a hand on my shoulder, obviously trying to take some of the sting out of his bald refusal. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z Rooster Jim and I rode along quietly as the night sky softened from navy blue to faded denim to pink. Hattie Big Sky 2006-09-26T00:00:00Z My mom usually tries hard to soften the edge in her voice when she feels it coming on, but not this time. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z He did not eliminate or even soften in the slightest his attack on the black nurses, despite having the type sitting in his printing shop and ready for “improvements.” An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 2003-06-23T00:00:00Z “The planes were like explosives. Gallons and gallons of stinking oil, burning. Metal so hot, it lost strength, softened.” Towers Falling 2016-07-12T00:00:00Z The curtain was dropped, the house lights came on, and the chanting softened, faded, and died. The View From Saturday 1996-09-01T00:00:00Z The screaming gradually subsided into deep, burning groans, which no salve could soften. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z She looked at each person in the room, her eyes softening only when she saw Chacho. The House of the Scorpion 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z The dark of the sky was softened now. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z He put his hand against the glass and realized it was softening, melting like ice. The Mark of Athena 2012-10-02T00:00:00Z His face softens in a way that I am entirely unused to seeing. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z Mr. Derby’s face softened as he put his arm around his wife’s shoulders and gave her what seemed to be a reassuring hug. Copper Sun 2006-01-01T00:00:00Z We looked long at each other, and I saw him soften a bit. Beyond the Bright Sea 2017-05-02T00:00:00Z Ewell’s fight in the north was stiffer, but down here the sound was softened; the wind was in the south, blowing toward the battle, blowing up between the lines. The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z So he softened and gave me the supplies, but warned if it happened again, that would be the end. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z I could feel my body softening into the floor, my mind getting weak, the darkness getting scary, the booze turning from mean to messy. Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet 2007-04-30T00:00:00Z The dark horizon was softening, and the stars were dimming one by one. Healer of the Water Monster 2021-05-11T00:00:00Z At least she had no freckles to conceal or soften, and that surely saved labor. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z "We call her Amber," I add to soften it. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z Then he let go and walked out the door, his steps measured, his footfall softened. The Bridge Home 2019-02-05T00:00:00Z Scooping the clay crumbs into his palm, he spat on them, softened and mixed them with a careful finger, then pressed them into the crack and smoothed the edges as well as he could. The Golden Goblet 1961-04-24T00:00:00Z In the moonlight, the forbidding buildings of Blackcliff are almost beautiful, the sable granite softened to blue. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z They had softened but were still those of one who had worked the fields. The Underground Railroad: A Novel 2016-08-02T00:00:00Z He sensed my distrust and softened me up with the gift of a dime, then knelt and prayed for us two “poor fatherless young men,” as he called us. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z His face softened a bit and the hard glint in his bloodshot eyes died. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z His face had softened as he heard Redemption talk about killing him. Pet 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z It was the only sofa in the living room; next to it were cane chairs, softened with brown cushions. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits and rolled them in my hands until they softened— no long task, for a burning heat came down from Helios, lord of high noon. The Odyssey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z That was something he’d been noticing more—that he was able to soften her, to rub out those hard edges of hers, when he smiled. When Dimple Met Rishi 2017-05-30T00:00:00Z “After what you let out the other day, Mr. Jaggers may as well not know of it. He might think my brain was softening, or something of the kind.” Great Expectations 1861-08-01T00:00:00Z My face softened once I realized it was Poppy. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z When he sees us, his face softens and he smiles broadly. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z As my heart calms down, as my breath softens, I get up to work on my altar. American Street 2017-02-14T00:00:00Z I take her hand, and the shock of it softens her. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z A marble statuette stood in one comer, and rich rugs had been hung on the walls, lending their colors to the light in the room, softening the edges of everything. Uglies 2005-02-08T00:00:00Z He met my eye and gazed at me for a long moment, his eyes softening bit by bit. From Twinkle, with Love 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z I nod decisively, at the last minute softening the gesture with a tilt of my head. In the Time of the Butterflies 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z She cut a slice and poured a cup of coffee and dipped the bread into the coffee to soften it. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 1943-01-01T00:00:00Z The students were asked to read over and over a single phonetic paragraph designed to teach them how to soften their t’s and to roll their r s. The World Is Flat 2005-04-05T00:00:00Z I stare into it, allowing my focus to soften, looking beyond the leaves and branches. Water for Elephants 2006-05-26T00:00:00Z When he turns, the moonlight catches on him, and his face looks softened in half shadows, inviting in a way Alex can’t quite work out. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z Even the most intimate songs of Schubert, Schumann and Mendelssohn soften raw emotion with a poetic image - rejection being portrayed as an iced-up lake, or happiness as a bird singing. The Story of Music 2012-12-25T00:00:00Z Kim looked at my red and teary face and her expression softened into a gentle smile. If I Stay 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z At sight of his kind and handsome face, the first known face that I had seen for many days, a rush of relief softened my mood of strained resolution. The Left Hand of Darkness 1969-03-01T00:00:00Z Their shelling was supposed to soften up the beaches, drive back the enemy, and destroy his positions. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z He hugs me, holds me long enough to soften my stubborn tears. Watch Us Rise 2019-02-12T00:00:00Z One by one, they went to their mother and pleaded forgiveness for the humans — hut even their words did not soften their mother's cold keart. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z He thought the iron armatures had softened in the heat and then reset again to leave the buildings standing out of true. The Road 2006-09-28T00:00:00Z Suddenly, as if I had said something warm and kind, everything stern about her softened. Beyond the Bright Sea 2017-05-02T00:00:00Z Her eyes narrow, focusing on the reflections in the curve of the watch, and then they soften, looking at something beyond the watch, beyond the train. The Night Circus 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z Irish lace, hanging in the windows, filters the afternoon light, softening the lines on her face. Orphan Train 2013-04-02T00:00:00Z When the third one was brought and Eva said “Dewey” again, everybody thought she had simply run out of names or that her faculties had finally softened. Sula 1973-11-01T00:00:00Z With the door shut, the sound of the sirens softens. All the Light We Cannot See 2014-05-06T00:00:00Z After a moment, his eyes softened and he patted me on the shoulder. The Rock and the River 2009-01-06T00:00:00Z Have I forgotten the hell I traveled, or are these new memories a cushion softening its sharpness? The Adoration of Jenna Fox 2008-04-29T00:00:00Z “Marriage will soften her, I have no doubt. A firm hand and a quiet word.” A Dance with Dragons 2011-07-12T00:00:00Z Even Haymitch must know he's been too harsh because his voice softens. The Hunger Games 2008-09-14T00:00:00Z He looked a little like Jack’s dad—he even had the same lines under his eyes—and the thought softened Hazel’s heart. Breadcrumbs 2011-09-27T00:00:00Z Asclepius’s expression softened, like he was easing himself into a hot bath. Blood of Olympus 2014-10-07T00:00:00Z Inej looked at her strange crew, barefoot and shivering in their soot-stained prison uniforms, their features limned by the golden light of the dome, softened by the mist that hung in the air. Six of Crows 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z In a phone call with the president a few days later, King backpedaled on his comments, trying to soften them. Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam 2018-04-10T00:00:00Z Then he added buddy, as if that somehow softened it. Tradition 2018-05-01T00:00:00Z She glances once at Metias’s body before she turns away—for a brief second, her face softens. Legend 2011-11-29T00:00:00Z When he looked up, her face had softened. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z Jon left me the key in an envelope under the mat, and a note saying Blessings, which is a measure of how much he’s softened, or mellowed. Cat's Eye 1988-09-01T00:00:00Z As though, with gifts and whimsy, she might soften the blow of her news. Strange the Dreamer 2017-03-28T00:00:00Z His eyes moved to Gum Baby and softened, then to Thandiwe and High John, where they lingered. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky 2019-10-15T00:00:00Z Ron glanced at Hermione, clearly hopeful she might soften at this small instance of humor, but her expression remained stony above her tightly knotted limbs. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2007-07-21T00:00:00Z Even Bullet had softened, smiling at the back of the line while the nurses laughed and teased each other. The Marrow Thieves 2017-05-10T00:00:00Z His regency would be a short one, he reflected as the wax softened. A Game of Thrones 1997-08-04T00:00:00Z Pastor George still didn’t smile, but his face softened a little. The Lions of Little Rock 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z “You I saw with a black beast on your shoulders. Beware, Ellidyr, lest it swallow you up,” he added, the gentleness of his tone softening the harshness of his counsel. The Black Cauldron 1965-06-01T00:00:00Z As his eyes softened, the sweet odor of ambrosia arose from the gland on the top of his tail and she was drenched lightly in wolf scent. Julie of the Wolves 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z Jake is standing in front of us; he turns and looks at me, softening his eyes for the briefest of seconds. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Eventually, they softened some, but they always remained the chief features of Inigo’s face: the giant parallel scars running one on each side, from temple to chin. The Princess Bride 1973-11-01T00:00:00Z She draws in a breath, and I can feel her softening against her will. Sparrow 2017-10-10T00:00:00Z One could not say her face softened, for softness was not in her repertoire of expressions. How the García Girls Lost Their Accents 1991-01-04T00:00:00Z “Don’t patronize me,” she said crossly, then her tone softened again. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z His voice softened as he touched my shoulder. The City Beautiful 2021-10-05T00:00:00Z Somewhere inside her there was a squeak of sympathy, a softening. Orphan Island 2017-05-30T00:00:00Z Her face softens with a kindness that enhances her beauty. Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z Ollie's voice softens and so do his eyes, quiet and blue. Girl in the Blue Coat 2016-04-05T00:00:00Z The heat had softened the glue of Madam’s left mousy eyebrow, and it had begun to free itself from her face. Chains 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z I’d rub handfuls of lotion into the pads of my fingers to soften the calluses, just in case that was the night Charles touched them. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z And then there was my favorite spot, the place where her ribcage softened into breast, the smooth, white dune there. Middlesex: A Novel 2002-06-05T00:00:00Z Dolores’s voice softened as the ferret curled into a frightened, hairy ball and sniffled a sad sort of sniffle. A Tangle of Knots 2013-02-05T00:00:00Z They wash themselves with orange-colored Lifebuoy soap, dust themselves with Cashmere Bouquet talc, clean their teeth with salt on a piece of rag, soften their skin with Jergens Lotion. The Bluest Eye 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z “None of your business,” I tell him, but I soften the words with a smile. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z She would go straight to Venus; she would offer herself humbly to her as her servant, and try to soften her anger. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes 1942-01-01T00:00:00Z Her voice went up to soften the request into a question. Lyddie 1991-02-01T00:00:00Z The great wolf’s eyes softened at the sight of the little wolves, then quickly hardened into brittle yellow jewels as he scanned the flat tundra. Julie of the Wolves 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z It was like watching wax soften in the sun. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes 1942-01-01T00:00:00Z With the crowd softened up by Wilkins and aroused by Farmer, the leader of the local protest group now harnessed the enthusiasm in the church and directed it toward a specific goal. The Best of Enemies 1996-04-01T00:00:00Z It softens the play, and not in a good way. Drama High 2013-09-26T00:00:00Z Bailey persisted in calling her Mother Dear until the circumstance of proximity softened the phrase’s formality to “Muh Dear,” and finally to “M’Deah.” I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z Even the bricks of the house are softening, becoming tactile; if I leaned against them they’d be warm and yielding. The Handmaid's Tale 1985-01-01T00:00:00Z “Birds in their little nests agree,” sang Beth, the peacemaker, with such a funny face that both sharp voices softened to a laugh, and the “pecking” ended for that time. Little Women 1868-01-01T00:00:00Z “And you!” said Mrs. Weasley, but it was with a slightly softened expression that she started cutting Harry bread and buttering it for him. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets 1998-07-02T00:00:00Z I watch intently as the Doorman gently lunges for the sweet taste and softens the cone with his slobber. I Am the Messenger 2002-01-10T00:00:00Z There could be no need to resort to goat’s blood to soften the diamond. The Invention of Science 2015-09-17T00:00:00Z The thought made him deliriously happy, mostly because he hadn’t thought it possible for Dimple’s hard edges to be softened at all, let alone that he’d be the one to accomplish it. When Dimple Met Rishi 2017-05-30T00:00:00Z It would take several more storms for the ground to soften. A Girl Named Disaster 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z There was no way to soften the blow, so she told him straight. A Game of Thrones 1997-08-04T00:00:00Z She immediately moves to soften what sounds like an accusation. Every Day 2012-08-28T00:00:00Z Dusk softened the outline of the houses along the street. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z Her fall had been softened by a bank of overgrown hemlocks, and she had missed the flagstone patio, tumbling instead onto the thick grass. Typical American 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z A few minutes gasping for breath might soften him up. Six of Crows 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z When it seemed the night would last forever, the blackness finally softened into a dull gray. Touching Spirit Bear 2001-01-09T00:00:00Z When it was warm, the sun would soften the tar, which gave off a distinctive odor. Bad Boy 2001-05-08T00:00:00Z It didn’t occur to me to use her poet name, Nzila, to maybe soften her up. One Crazy Summer 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z Here, the slick blue mesarthium of which the entire citadel was constructed was softened almost to an afterthought by Sparrow’s orchids. Strange the Dreamer 2017-03-28T00:00:00Z This one I also made of yucca fibers softened in water and braided into twine. Island of the Blue Dolphins 1960-01-01T00:00:00Z “It’s not unbelievable,” the rabbi informs me, his voice softening. Linked 2021-07-20T00:00:00Z Jones was thin and graying, his deep voice softened by a faint Southern accent. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 2010-02-02T00:00:00Z “I sound like me,” Isabella says, but then her voice softens. A Good Kind of Trouble 2019-03-12T00:00:00Z Some miles beyond the Tallises’ land rose the Surrey Hills and their motionless crowds of thick crested oaks, their greens softened by a milky heat haze. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z The key itself was marvelous—the oldest I’d seen in Sing Sing, thin and short, with two circles cut out of the grip and the edges softened by a million touches. Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Did the lacquer soften if it got wet? The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z He looked at me and his face softened. Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z The Wood smelled of damp things: rainwater soaking into fallen logs, softening the bark until it crumbled back into the ground. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z The Duchess’s expression softens, and she hauls herself to her feet. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z It seemed just when the prosecution began to present a strong case against him, his dream team displayed something else to weaken their evidence, and softened the hearts of the jury. The Freedom Writers Diary 1999-10-12T00:00:00Z Until the darkness in my blood softens and fades. Without Refuge 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z I closed my eyes and let his voice caress me, let myself imagine him as a child, before his shoulders grew square, chasing aku outside, over soil softened by new rains. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z And, all at once, the grain of sand behind her forehead began to soften and release—just a bit. The Girl Who Drank the Moon 2016-08-09T00:00:00Z There’s toast, too, which softens up when I dunk it a few times. The Cruel Prince 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z By the time she got hold of herself to soften her vision again, it was just a few feet away. Shadowshaper 2015-06-30T00:00:00Z She would be condemned to soften, tan, work with stinking hides. The Birchbark House 1999-07-21T00:00:00Z His voice softens when he talks about her—he is no longer the toughened leader of this compound, but an old man, reflecting on some fonder past. Allegiant 2013-10-22T00:00:00Z All he could do was again to sit wretched and helpless on the shore, but this time not trying in fury to kill people, only singing mournful love songs to soften the sea nymph’s heart. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes 1942-01-01T00:00:00Z My father looks confused for a minute, and then his face softens into something warm and familiar. Harbor Me 2018-08-28T00:00:00Z Char resembled his father, but softened a bit. Ella Enchanted 1998-09-01T00:00:00Z Evenings were peaceful, smoke settling in the quiet air to soften the dusk, lights twinkling on the ridge we would camp on tomorrow, clouds dimming the outline of our pass for the day after. Into Thin Air 1996-08-01T00:00:00Z And as he stared at it Kino’s eyes softened and his face relaxed. The Pearl 1947-01-01T00:00:00Z In Chicago, city officials did nothing to soften the idea that the fire was caused by the city’s poor. The Great Fire 1995-04-01T00:00:00Z It softened under her fingertips, and the fear softened too. Anya and the Nightingale 2020-11-10T00:00:00Z Alex reaches into his pocket and pulls out a packet of Skittles, and Luna’s face immediately softens into a smile. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z But unimpressionable natures are not so soon softened, nor are natural antipathies so readily eradicated. Jane Eyre 1847-10-16T00:00:00Z “Eww,” Tally said, imagining her face suddenly softening so she could squish it around to a different shape. Uglies 2005-02-08T00:00:00Z It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and this time his office was filled with sunlight barely softened by a flimsy curtain. The Stranger 1989-03-13T00:00:00Z After a few weeks and many blisters, they softened a little, and she was able to forget them for an hour or so at a time. Lyddie 1991-02-01T00:00:00Z And the water rose into the earthen houses and softened the walls and burst them apart and they melted down into the water and were as if they had never been. The Good Earth 1931-03-02T00:00:00Z Jake is standing in front of us; he turns and looks at me, softening his eyes for the briefest of seconds. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Jenny’s dark eyes flashed with quick anger, but they softened as she looked at his thin body, sagging with fatigue. Across Five Aprils 1964-01-01T00:00:00Z He doesn’t say anything, but she senses a shift, a softening. Orphan Train 2013-04-02T00:00:00Z Once more the Abbot’s heart softened towards the little mouse. Redwall 1986-10-23T00:00:00Z Her face softened at the sound, and they shared a brief look that I didn’t understand, though Esme’s face seemed almost smug. Twilight 2005-10-05T00:00:00Z Butterscotch curled up right in front of me, making sure, I guess, that if I slid out again, she’d be there to soften the fall. Out of My Mind 2010-03-09T00:00:00Z I put the chocolate in my mouth, letting it soften until the last possible moment, and then as I chewed it slowly, I prayed that Mr. Pirzada’s family was safe and sound. Interpreter of Maladies 1999-05-22T00:00:00Z He hoped that darkness might soften the loss, but there was just enough moonlight to bathe his window ledge in a soft glow. Strange the Dreamer 2017-03-28T00:00:00Z She’s clad in a loose black robe that softens the disdain on her masked face. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z He gazed up at Amaroq in pure adoration, and the royal eyes softened. Julie of the Wolves 1972-01-01T00:00:00Z But he immediately softened his voice and begged her to leave before the police came in, because he was in a position to know that the government was not going to let them stay indefinitely. The House of the Spirits: A Novel 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z We dipped it in the dandelion broth to soften it. X: A Novel 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z By the time my wounds had softened and my rag of a blouse had come unstuck from them, I was exhausted. Kindred 1979-06-01T00:00:00Z A live undercurrent of excitement fizzed in him, and he softened to the point of giving me a grin. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate 2009-05-12T00:00:00Z And all this was just to light a candle that barely softened the predawn gloom of the attic. Lyddie 1991-02-01T00:00:00Z While the knives sliced away behind her, her somewhat irritable expression softened. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2007-07-21T00:00:00Z Seeing Ma’s face soften, Pa said, “All right.” Worth 1998-06-01T00:00:00Z As Jam watched, its fur softened and it shifted its stance just a little, draining the menace away. Pet 2019-09-10T00:00:00Z If the arigbe softened Master’s heart, perhaps he could grow it and some other herbs in the backyard. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z As the nameless boy turns to me and Katherine, his expression softens. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z His face softened, as if he were trying to make up for his curtness. Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z “I’m sorry to say that there’s still something stiff and severe in my drawings, and I think that she, namely her influence will be needed to soften that.” Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers 2017-04-18T00:00:00Z Her voice softens as she adds, “Plus it’s expensive. Mom’s a hairdresser. Dad’s a mechanic. Not like we have great insurance or anything.” Dumplin' 2015-09-15T00:00:00Z These industries have already sucked the blood and softened the bones of the people. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z The hard edges of her face softened momentarily. We Are the Ants 2016-01-19T00:00:00Z Mama dropped her arms and her face softened. The Red Umbrella 2010-04-25T00:00:00Z Something softens and resolves in her face, and he suspects he’s answered a question for her beyond the one she asked. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z My tone softened, became more pleading than commanding. The Name of the Wind 2007-03-27T00:00:00Z The guard’s eyes soften, but his jaw is tight. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z The first rain had fallen, softening the soil. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier 2007-02-13T00:00:00Z I could see a softening between the two. Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel 2011-09-15T00:00:00Z She lifted her feathers and softened her eyes. Frightful's Mountain 2001-05-21T00:00:00Z I caught her face softening before her head hung back down and she stared into her empty glass. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z She did not answer, but as he looked at her it seemed to him that something in her softened, as though a bitter frost were yielding at the first faint presage of Spring. The Return of the King 1955-10-20T00:00:00Z I would have said, / hope this softens you toward the world. The Secret Life of Bees 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z Gran’s expression softened as she leaned closer to the window. Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence 2022-03-22T00:00:00Z Maybe this Red Cross work has softened her heart. Hattie Big Sky 2006-09-26T00:00:00Z But she just stared back, unflinching, her eyes haunted with fear and sadness that only softened when Henrietta rocked her back and forth. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks 2010-02-02T00:00:00Z The sidewalks of Williamsburg were cracked squares of cement, the streets paved with asphalt that softened in the stifling summers and broke apart into potholes in the bitter winters. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z I cover my ears to soften the shrill screams, but it doesn’t stop the silver spears from shooting across the room. A Mango-Shaped Space 2003-04-16T00:00:00Z Bits of it dropped from the branches of the trees and made little holes in the softening snowbanks below. Little House in the Big Woods 1932-01-01T00:00:00Z The sharpness of his expression softened like a flower blossoming, his small smile gentle. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z He was only vaguely aware of the leaves and branches twisting around him, softening and widening to let him lie back. A Monster Calls 2011-05-05T00:00:00Z The warm glow of a table lamp softened the planes of Babou’s face and brightened his eyes. Darius the Great Is Not Okay 2018-08-28T00:00:00Z “They’re throwing us at the walls first to soften up the defenses.” The Son of Neptune 2011-10-04T00:00:00Z Adam looked up from the twins and his eyes were warmed and softened. East of Eden 1952-09-01T00:00:00Z The princess's eyelids droop, and her mouth softens. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z The woman’s eyes softened and she looked sad. Summer of the Mariposas 2012-10-20T00:00:00Z Turtle softened on seeing her sister's hurt expression. The Westing Game 1979-01-01T00:00:00Z Milkman softened his description of Circe, saying simply that she was alive, and taking care of the dogs. Song of Solomon 1977-01-01T00:00:00Z Caught, I stammer, trying to come up with some kind of explanation, because I know how bad this must look—but Mrs. McCracken’s face softens. Dry 2018-10-02T00:00:00Z Wide flush the fields; the softening air is balm; New Word-Analysis 1871-01-01T00:00:00Z A few days ago, I tried to make beans, but they never softened, even though I boiled them for three hours. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z Then, having softened us up, he went into a glorious sermon, a fire-and-brimstone sermon. Travels with Charley in Search of America 1962-01-01T00:00:00Z Then something in her eyes softens when Taj touches her shoulder. American Street 2017-02-14T00:00:00Z Yale historian David Musto and other scholars have documented a disturbing, though unsurprising, pattern: punishment becomes more severe when drug use is associated with people of color but softens when it is associated with whites. The New Jim Crow 2010-01-05T00:00:00Z I bit into a hard biscuit, hoping I had enough spit to soften it up. Moon Over Manifest 2010-10-12T00:00:00Z The woods grew quiet now; even the beetles stopped rubbing their smooth shells on softened bark, even the wind picked around the branches instead of rattling straight through. The Marrow Thieves 2017-05-10T00:00:00Z Iwo Jima wasn’t just “softened up” for a few days before D-day. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z His face softens, but he doesn’t say anything to that. King and the Dragonflies 2020-02-04T00:00:00Z She put them in a tub of water, to soften them and keep them soft. Little House in the Big Woods 1932-01-01T00:00:00Z His chances of a recovery, they tell Jo, softening the truth, are poor. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers 2017-04-18T00:00:00Z It softened, and she sucked in a breath. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World 2018-03-06T00:00:00Z Her face softened and she shook her head. Full of Beans 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z The tree muted and softened these sounds, and Hatsue felt herself at the heart of things. Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel 1994-09-12T00:00:00Z Claire’s face suddenly softened, and she put her hands on Maya’s shoulders. Far from the Tree 2017-10-03T00:00:00Z Across his brow a constellation of acne had a new-minted look, its garishness softened by the sepia light. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z Quite plainly he had a distaste for the duty at hand, but his stem soldierly countenance did not soften. The Witch of Blackbird Pond 1958-12-01T00:00:00Z “If there is bad blood between you and them,” said I, to soften it off a little. Great Expectations 1861-08-01T00:00:00Z Slowly the din of the outside voice softened and receded. I, Robot 1950-12-02T00:00:00Z To soften the effect of his speech, Douglass offered some kind words about Stanton. Votes for Women! 2018-02-13T00:00:00Z Her face softens, but her eyes are still suspicious. Girl in the Blue Coat 2016-04-05T00:00:00Z Nina tilted her head and her voice softened. Breadcrumbs 2011-09-27T00:00:00Z When he was sure she wouldn’t break the glass, Malcolm let her finish while he softened and warmed the putty. The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage 2017-10-19T00:00:00Z She exhales slowly, her eyes softening for the first time in a long time. Five Feet Apart 2018-11-20T00:00:00Z The public read about his diet: milk and rum; toast softened in milk; slivers of woodcock-breast meat. Ambushed! 2021-10-12T00:00:00Z He turns his head to give me a look, before his face softens. Five Feet Apart 2018-11-20T00:00:00Z A green lushness seemed to bloom from the rock — a jewel-colored splendor softened the sharp edges that had painfully sliced the sky. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z Jo’s angles are much softened, she has learned to carry herself with ease, if not grace. Little Women 1868-01-01T00:00:00Z Her face softened and she pushed back from her desk. Root Magic 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z But even as I say it, the music softens and the mountain fades, as I am pulled back through the desert, into darkness, and into my bed. The Last Cuentista 2021-10-12T00:00:00Z Gradually the wood softened and came free, and Mary was left with the single sheet of clear brown-yellow lacquer, about the size of a page from a paperback book. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z I noted a deliberate change in his accent—the softened hiss of the consonants in his words, the dental chh of West Bengali softening into the sibilant ss of the East. The Gene 2016-06-02T00:00:00Z The heavy air was thickening into mist, and by the time they tied up at the wharves alongside the Smokemarket everything in sight was softened and blurred. The Golden Compass 1995-07-01T00:00:00Z Those eyes that had witnessed so much horror softened with sincere worry. City of the Plague God 2021-01-12T00:00:00Z And as they said they were sorry, their voices softened, and they melted into a hug. The Queen of Water 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Snow was falling, magically softening and erasing the university world beneath it. Chasing Vermeer 2004-06-01T00:00:00Z It is now softened and blurred by thousands of years of Egyptian desert sandblasting and by occasional rains. Cosmos 1980-01-01T00:00:00Z “Your lordship, I beg you, help.me.” Lord Godric began to eat his trencher, tearing it apart in his big hands. The stew had softened the stale bread. “I have no love for northmen,” he announced. A Dance with Dragons 2011-07-12T00:00:00Z Dusk softens the sharp points of trees outside my window; the sky slowly darkens, then blackens around an orb of moon. Orphan Train 2013-04-02T00:00:00Z Hoping to soften the blow by delivering his decision in person, Teller received a sympathetic hearing from Sproul and a few other administrators. Big Science 2015-07-07T00:00:00Z I called her on the 19th and she was softening. Dead End in Norvelt 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z When he speaks, Meng’s voice softens and trembles as he tries to reassure Ma and Pa that everything is okay at the camp. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z Ms. Lee turned back to Emily, her face softened with an apologetic smile. Book Scavenger 2015-06-02T00:00:00Z “Look, Potions will be almost empty this afternoon, with us all off doing our tests ...Try and soften Slughorn up a bit then!” Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 2005-07-16T00:00:00Z Afraid that the crunch of uncooked rice might wake the others, I softened the grains with saliva. First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers 2000-01-01T00:00:00Z I would let the water soften it until I could ease it from my back. Kindred 1979-06-01T00:00:00Z Her face softened then darkened again, as if seeing me had made her forget her pain, but not for long. When I Was Puerto Rican 1993-09-20T00:00:00Z At the sound of her name, he softened. The Book of Unknown Americans 2014-06-03T00:00:00Z I loved the slow roll of his voice and the way his eyes softened when I told a funny story. Becoming 2018-11-13T00:00:00Z As wonderful as Anna was, her kindness did little to soften Fry High’s general treatment of Petey. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z During my second week in the enclosure, giant green gourds began to soften and sag and drop from the trees. Endangered 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z The pines quivered around them, and the moss softening the stones in the piles was so green that Lizzie wondered whether even the frock coats want to kneel down and smell it. Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy 2004-05-24T00:00:00Z Even with my bedroll to soften the stone of the doorway, I could not sleep. Homeless Bird 2000-03-01T00:00:00Z She took note of his unnatural stillness, recognizing it as restrained restlessness, and waited impatiently for it to soften into sleep. Strange the Dreamer 2017-03-28T00:00:00Z It was as small as the lights Celia used to decorate the Christmas tree, but it shone valiantly and softened what would otherwise have been complete darkness. The House of the Scorpion 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z By the time she got that stupid old moose hide softened up, they would have eaten every last berry. The Birchbark House 1999-07-21T00:00:00Z But Longstreet felt himself yielding, softening, bending like a young tree in the wind. The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z The Red Lady’s expression softens so that she looks more like the woman who fought for me yesterday. Amari and the Night Brothers 2021-01-19T00:00:00Z Then she caught Chess watching her, and her expression softened. The Strangers 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z My grandmother’s face softened as she noticed the sheen of cleanliness. Krik? Krak! 2015-12-15T00:00:00Z For a while she simply stands there before tending to the shampooing of her hair, the soaping of her softening, slightly shrinking fifty-three-year-old body, which she must fortify each morning with calcium pills. The Namesake 2003-09-01T00:00:00Z In his mid-thirties, he still looked like a coarse peasant, although it had become more a matter of style since success and his knowledge of the world had softened his roughness and refined his ideas. The House of the Spirits: A Novel 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z The hooded stones seemed to soften into movement; the one who had looked so strangely at me began to whisper to his neighbor. The Left Hand of Darkness 1969-03-01T00:00:00Z Annie’s face softened only slightly, her words sharp as a blade. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z I can still hear a little edge in her voice, but I can also tell she’s trying to soften it. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Alex still feels wired, but when June looks up at him, he can see some of the brightness in her eyes has started to look like frustrated tears, and he softens a little. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z Beneath them, the blackened ruins of Stalingrad were softened by a fresh fall of snow, and around them the Soviet air and ground forces were flattening the last German troops outside the city. A Thousand Sisters 2019-01-22T00:00:00Z It fell flat on the big vat of lard and by noontime during the summer the grease had softened to a thick soup. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z Before my eyes, gold bells shredded into gold tassles that fanned into two royal capes that softened into lions’ fur. The Woman Warrior 1976-01-01T00:00:00Z For some, deep religious convictions can soften harsh human emotions. The Best of Enemies 1996-04-01T00:00:00Z Her hair worn down to her shoulders softens her. Flowers for Algernon 1959-05-01T00:00:00Z Fortunately, Jase’s bundle of clothes hit the ground first, softening the blow. Paper Towns 2008-10-16T00:00:00Z “He is just softening you up. Just do your job, boy.” Native Speaker 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z The rain had softened to a mist, and his wet shirt felt cool against his skin. Hoot 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z He didn’t even try to soften the news for my mom, who, I’m sure, felt like she got hit by a truck. Out of My Mind 2010-03-09T00:00:00Z Her fingers softened, slowly curled, and disappeared beneath the ice. Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z Blue was hovering about on the periphery of the circle—a faint smile of anticipation softening his face. The Bluest Eye 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z His deep grief he kept to himself, and would not undermine it now with this softening hope: Bodger was dead; Luath almost certainly so; and his conviction was steady and unalterable. The Incredible Journey 1961-01-01T00:00:00Z Albert shifted and his eyes briefly softened, but then he said, “Enough.” The Marvels 2015-09-15T00:00:00Z His expression softens as he looks down at me. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z But her face softens, and she touches Marcus’s arm again, this time with a light caress. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Still...there must be some way to soften Grandmother’s heart. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson 1984-10-12T00:00:00Z The cannons were blossoming, filling the air with thunder, far enough away to soften and roll, not angry yet, but growing. The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War 1974-01-01T00:00:00Z In cotton-picking time the late afternoons revealed the harshness of Black Southern life, which in the early morning had been softened by nature’s blessing of grogginess, forgetfulness and the soft lamplight. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1969-01-01T00:00:00Z The uncertain half smile on his lips softened his face. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z But twenty years doing hair in the City had softened her arms and melted the shield that once covered her palms and fingers. Jazz 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z The shout rings with nothing on the street to soften the sound of it. Insurgent 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Though wary of this sudden about-face, Ronald Reagan seemed willing to soften his rhetoric and take a new look at US-Soviet relations. Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z He has big floppy curls that soften the angles of his face. Everything, Everything 2015-09-01T00:00:00Z Nora’s face softens, but she doesn’t move closer yet, giving him space. Red, White & Royal Blue 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z "Yeah, but Needles was with us too," I said quickly, hoping that Needles's name would soften the blow, since she had a soft spot for him. When I Was the Greatest 2014-01-07T00:00:00Z Even her view of her family softened through the lens of Islam. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z With some damaged merchandise from Haldar’s shop she polished her toenails and softened her elbows. Interpreter of Maladies 1999-05-22T00:00:00Z Then I don’t want his hand between my legs no more, because I think I am softening away. The Bluest Eye 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z Her features are softened by our planet’s dust swimming around her. The Last Cuentista 2021-10-12T00:00:00Z His features were sharp, as hard and craggy as the rocks, but his eyes were friendly and the little mustache he wore softened his mouth. Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z Tar softens under the heel and the darkness under bridges changes from gloom to cooling shade. Jazz 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z My mum, she softened him a bit, but when she was gone he turned to stone. Son 2012-10-02T00:00:00Z It was something about her lately, a mellowing, a softening from which this note had come. Half of a Yellow Sun 2006-09-12T00:00:00Z In any case, once Kathy knew that she would be heard, and heard to the end, it softened the tone of her arguments. Zeitoun 2009-07-15T00:00:00Z This was continued for a few moments; then it softened into a glad surprise, and from the lips came a sigh of relief. Dracula 1897-05-26T00:00:00Z But after they started school, the edges of the distance softened, and Auntie seldom had the boys to herself any more. Ceremony: 1977-03-01T00:00:00Z I ran my middle finger along the edge, softening the harsh line. Between Shades of Gray 2011-03-22T00:00:00Z All in all, he seems a beast utterly untouched by the softening influences of modern civilization. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z “No,” Tsukiko says with a polite shake of her head, her smile softening the harshness of the word. The Night Circus 2011-09-13T00:00:00Z The heart was thrilled, the mind astonished, by the power of the preacher: neither were softened. Jane Eyre 1847-10-16T00:00:00Z Then his rage Seeped into the room, clouding the crystal and softening the starched tablecloth. Jazz 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z Light from cooking fires in derelict buildings softens the dense dark. Without Refuge 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z The soft light seemed to warm the air and soften the growing darkness. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z “There’s ripe hazel-nuts in the thicket just beyond the Littlejohns’ monument,” said Tom with a smile, as if softening a blow. The Graveyard Book 2008-09-30T00:00:00Z Digger frowned and his lips parted as a scared, hurt look softened his steely expression. Red Kayak 2004-09-23T00:00:00Z The mountains are dead stone, the people Admire or hate their stature, their insolent quietness, The mountains are not softened or troubled And a few dead men’s thoughts have the same temper. Into the Wild 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z They all lived in fear of Sister Marjorie Drummond, of the menacing meager smile and softening of manner that preceded her fury. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z Mom turned away from him and I saw his eyes, usually a bright hard blue, soften into liquid blots. October Sky 1999-04-01T00:00:00Z "Hi, son," my mother said, the tone of her voice softening. When I Was the Greatest 2014-01-07T00:00:00Z Kinzie scowled in annoyance, but when she saw where Hazel was looking, her expression softened. The Son of Neptune 2011-10-04T00:00:00Z I wasn’t sure what passed between them, but Artemis’s gaze softened with sympathy. The Titan's Curse 2007-05-11T00:00:00Z The lake water softened the clay Nhamo had so carefully applied. A Girl Named Disaster 1996-01-01T00:00:00Z Even the glitter mascara couldn’t soften her expression. Artemis Fowl 2001-04-26T00:00:00Z It was Mr. Collins’s picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there to know the rest. Pride and Prejudice 1813-01-28T00:00:00Z Her voice had softened, and I had a hard time hearing her. Burning Blue 2012-10-25T00:00:00Z Nathan's face was somewhat stony, but it softened when he looked down at me. It All Comes Down to This 2017-07-11T00:00:00Z Taylor gave her a sharp look that was not softened in the least by a new smile. Beauty Queens 2011-05-24T00:00:00Z Her face softened and she sighed, and Nok could tell that the words that came next weren't the ones her mother had practiced. A Wish in the Dark 2020-03-24T00:00:00Z His serious expression softens at the sight of me. Warcross 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z “Go home,” Luma said once more, her voice softening only slightly. Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference 2009-04-21T00:00:00Z The bag is bulging and softening, threatening to leak, and he hands it to a flight attendant. The Hot Zone 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z Her bones seemed to soften a little in her body. The Secret Life of Bees 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z Then he looked at the flowers in Mother’s skirt and his face softened. Homesick 1982-01-01T00:00:00Z His intense gaze flicked away, and his voice softened. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z She even wore little padded gloves to help soften the blows. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus 2017-09-05T00:00:00Z Then she adds in this last part to soften the blow: “But look, my plan worked. You got in, right? I’ll make it up to you and try to come to one of your rehearsals.” Like Vanessa 2018-03-13T00:00:00Z Hannelore’s heart always seemed to soften when I brought her sweets or swept the sidewalk. Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z My mom’s voice softens a bit, trying a different tack. Love, Hate & Other Filters 2018-01-16T00:00:00Z Then my father’s face would soften, made mush by my mother’s tone. All American Boys 2015-09-29T00:00:00Z The snow, not deep, softening, gleamed in a white cover over all that she could see. The Birchbark House 1999-07-21T00:00:00Z Her last day, Cammy softened enough to tell him how Mr. Fitt had fired her in open defiance of the dean. Typical American 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z He dipped his hand in the water over the boat’s gunwale, and said, smiling with that softened air upon him which was not new to me:— Great Expectations 1861-08-01T00:00:00Z But Sam’s report on Terrance’s demise had softened her, even as it bred spiteful visions. The Underground Railroad: A Novel 2016-08-02T00:00:00Z The officer in charge softened a bit as I spoke, and said that he would release my friend straightaway. Long Walk to Freedom 1994-01-01T00:00:00Z His expression softened just a fraction of a degree. The Lightning Thief 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z The shame and fear and hate which Mary and Jan and Mr. Dalton and that huge rich house had made rise so hard and hot in him had now cooled and softened. Native Son 1940-03-01T00:00:00Z “I said to you I thought he was softened when I last saw him.” Great Expectations 1861-08-01T00:00:00Z Officer Delinko edged forward, assuming that the sight of a police uniform would soften the fellow’s attitude. Hoot 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z "You can soften my temper while you're at it, too. I need to become nicer. Sweeter. I'm a hard edge these days." The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z Every time the girls are tested, she cannot soften a temperament or bestow talent. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z His eyes go cold at the bite in my voice, and I soften. An Ember in the Ashes 2015-04-28T00:00:00Z On the first-floor landing, as she was about to open her door, she gave Briony a look, a cool glance to let her know that nothing had changed, nothing had softened. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z She softened the sharpness of her words with a smile, but Con was chagrined. Huntress 2011-04-05T00:00:00Z I wonder if it’ll ever be enough to thaw the freeze, or if the ice will just soften for a moment, then harden again. The Running Dream 2011-01-11T00:00:00Z There had been short thaws when the wind blew warm and the snow softened and the air felt like spring, but always the clear hard cold had come again and the winter had returned. A Farewell To Arms 1929-09-02T00:00:00Z “If he isn’t your friend, how do you happen to know' him so well?” he asked, laughing to soften the hard threat of his question. Black Boy 1945-01-01T00:00:00Z Even knowing it already hadn’t softened the blow. Dactyl Hill Squad 2018-09-11T00:00:00Z Ruthie, who softens her French toast by pouring orange juice over it and much of the table, is one of the more with-it gals. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America 2001-01-01T00:00:00Z Some in our group called her Sorry Eva because she often said appalling things, but inserted the word sorry before or after, as if to soften the sting. Salt to the Sea 2016-02-02T00:00:00Z Maybe my look softened, because her smile grew and she winked. Ella Enchanted 1998-09-01T00:00:00Z Everybody is aware of what happened with Imani, so it looks to me like Mrs. Garcia is working really hard to soften the uneasiness that’s floating on the edges of everything. Blended 2018-10-30T00:00:00Z He tried to soften his voice, but it came out more like a bark. The Strangers 2019-04-02T00:00:00Z It was a hot, humid month, with a fierce summer sun that left a heat shimmer over the streets and softened the asphalt. The Chosen 1967-04-28T00:00:00Z Lily’s face softened, and she took Toby’s hands. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z She was pretty sure she was wired wrong somewhere, that her plugs were switched, because instead of softening toward them— instead of tenderness—she felt herself go cold and mean. Eleanor & Park 2013-02-26T00:00:00Z Biting them was like a battle between her teeth and the crackers, but then Mama told her to suck on one until it softened. A Place to Belong 2019-05-14T00:00:00Z The sight of the wound would sicken your stomach, and soften your heart. Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village 2007-07-24T00:00:00Z He looked at her, and his anguished eyes softened. When the Sea Turned to Silver 2016-10-04T00:00:00Z As the rain fell again, the ground softened. Touching Spirit Bear 2001-01-09T00:00:00Z His hardships hadn’t weakened him, but he’d been weathered and softened like leather—as if he were becoming a more comfortable version of himself. The House of Hades 2013-10-08T00:00:00Z I had no need of paint, for my cheeks and lips were naturally bright, my skin softened by Mechtild’s strawberry water. Ophelia 2006-10-31T00:00:00Z Mr. Washington’s expression softens and he shakes his head, looking truly saddened. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z I brace myself for the Beauty Minister, Du Barry, or even Sophia herself, with a reprimand for trying to soften Sophia's manner without her consent. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z For a moment the day seemed to soften. The Things They Carried 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z Instead of softening one's manner, she worsens it. The Belles 2018-02-06T00:00:00Z That made me smile and made the pit in my stomach soften a little. If I Stay 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Miss Love cut off most of the thick gray beard with the scissors, after which Grandpa wrapped a steaming towel around his face to soften the stubble. Cold Sassy Tree 1984-11-02T00:00:00Z And then there came a day of long, hard walking: no trouble for Will, but a torment to Lyra, whose limbs were weakened and softened after her long sleep. The Amber Spyglass 2000-10-10T00:00:00Z It’s just a softening, like the last comb stroke through the hair that makes it hold the conk. X: A Novel 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z Perhaps it was mountains looming on the verge of sight, their jagged edges softened by wellnigh twenty leagues of misty air; perhaps it was but a cloud-wall, and beyond that again a yet deeper gloom. The Return of the King 1955-10-20T00:00:00Z “Come on, hold up a second,” she said, her voice softening. Ready Player One: A Novel 2011-08-16T00:00:00Z It had been icy that morning, but the sun had come out, softening the ground ice into mush. March Forward, Girl 2018-01-02T00:00:00Z There was not the least hint of a breeze to soften the heavy August night. Tuck Everlasting 1975-01-01T00:00:00Z But the practice of speaking a rich, tonal language to my neighbors has softened his voice in my ear. The Poisonwood Bible 1998-01-01T00:00:00Z The room was cool and the half-drawn shades softened the hard glare from the windows. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z And I find myself softening toward her, quietly wishing her well. Warcross 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z Portia spoke in a low voice, and she neither paused between words nor did the grief in her face soften. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter 1940-07-29T00:00:00Z Koffi watched the scowl slip from his face gradually, watched his expression soften to something like wonder. Beasts of Prey 2021-09-28T00:00:00Z Boyle never discussed garlic and magnets, but he did address the old belief that it was impossible to crush a diamond unless it had first been softened in goat’s blood. The Invention of Science 2015-09-17T00:00:00Z They glare at each other, and then both their faces soften. A Mango-Shaped Space 2003-04-16T00:00:00Z Jack softens his words with a gentle pat on Mom’s knee. The Sea in Winter 2021-01-05T00:00:00Z My first Bit-O-Honey was just softening in my mouth when two police officers walked into the office. When You Reach Me 2009-07-14T00:00:00Z His softened voice announced that he was subdued; so I, in my turn, became calm. Jane Eyre 1847-10-16T00:00:00Z And for a moment his scowling face seemed to soften. Norse Mythology 2017-02-07T00:00:00Z To soften the scary pictures everybody in our town now had of me. We'll Fly Away 2018-05-08T00:00:00Z He’s softened his voice like he’s the good cop now. Internment 2019-03-07T00:00:00Z Their gazes meet, and both of my parents seem to soften. I Can Make This Promise 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z I stood to go, and for some reason this softened him. Educated 2018-02-20T00:00:00Z She registers me, softening her face with a smile. Saints and Misfits 2017-06-13T00:00:00Z Their words melt into the sound of water lapping against children—the steamy Accra air softening even the crisp cadences of their accents. You Bring the Distant Near 2017-09-12T00:00:00Z As the snow softened in the afternoon sun, the hoofs of our yaks punched through the frozen crust, and the beasts wallowed to their bellies. Into Thin Air 1996-08-01T00:00:00Z I feel my shoe soften, blood flows into it, it grows warm, it becomes a skin. The Handmaid's Tale 1985-01-01T00:00:00Z The sorrow in his tone softened my anger. Hattie Big Sky 2006-09-26T00:00:00Z ‘But I am the real Strider, fortunately,’ he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. The Fellowship of the Ring 1954-07-29T00:00:00Z Late in the day they came to a place where the fire had crossed the road and the macadam was still warm and further on it began to soften underfoot. The Road 2006-09-28T00:00:00Z It's a sad thing, but there are few men that can’t be softened by a pretty face. Dread Nation 2018-04-03T00:00:00Z The ivy which used to soften the effect of that bright red facade had been stripped away, perhaps to preserve the brickwork. Atonement 2001-09-20T00:00:00Z "My daughter often forgets her courtesies," Eddard Stark said with a faint smile that softened his words. A Game of Thrones 1997-08-04T00:00:00Z Aunty Ifeoma softened her voice; she must have known the firm voice would not penetrate the fixed smile on Mamas face. Purple Hibiscus 2003-10-01T00:00:00Z Katherines love for Jimmy and her confidence in the new path her life had taken softened her fathers hard line on graduate school, and he certainly couldn’t resist the thrill of the family’s first grandchild. Hidden Figures 2016-09-06T00:00:00Z “Nothing,” I said, surprised that her voice had softened somewhat. Bad Boy 2001-05-08T00:00:00Z He looked at Desdemona, puzzled, but then his expression softened and he put his arm around her. Middlesex: A Novel 2002-06-05T00:00:00Z Only an occasional whiff of kindness, like a pale flower wilting in an alley, softened his pain. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm 1994-04-01T00:00:00Z Slowly his face softened with an idea, and he curled his lips with wicked pleasure. Catch-22 1961-11-10T00:00:00Z In a funny way, my tower collapse seemed to ease me up a bit, soften my chest rock. The Stars Beneath Our Feet 2017-09-19T00:00:00Z I munched on my crisps, letting them soften in my mouth before I bit into them so as to make less noise. The London Eye Mystery 2007-01-01T00:00:00Z My depression and anxiety have softened with the medication. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z It seemed like her face softened some when I said that, but it could’ve been wishful thinking on my part. The Secret Life of Bees 2002-01-01T00:00:00Z Ms. Lee turned back to Emily, her face softened with an apologetic smile. Book Scavenger 2015-06-02T00:00:00Z Monday’s eyes softened, scratching at her pretty fishtail braids, secured with a red headband. Monday's Not Coming 2018-05-22T00:00:00Z His eyes softened then and he raised a gentle hand to Juana’s shoulder. The Pearl 1947-01-01T00:00:00Z Then her mouth softens, her hand moves gently over my brother's warm head. Brown Girl Dreaming 2014-08-28T00:00:00Z When the calcium oxide has softened the delicate inner skin, it’s peeled off slowly and carefully. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 2017-10-17T00:00:00Z “I rode a horse,” Yanna said, and her eyes softened with the memory. When the Sea Turned to Silver 2016-10-04T00:00:00Z He often softened his editorial queries with the suggestion, “Our readers will want to know.” Robert Silvers, a founding editor of New York Review of Books, dies at 87 2017-03-21T04:00:00Z Trump’s unexpected softening on Wednesday gratified the affected media organizations, which nevertheless said that it had been unwarranted and antidemocratic in the first place. Trump lifts ban that excluded The Washington Post and other news media 2016-09-07T04:00:00Z This angle was sufficiently softened — by queasy pro-Roosevelt producers and by the casting of the roguishly charming Walter Huston in the role — that Roosevelt himself chortled through an out-of-town tryout. Rare Reprises for an Unlikely Collaboration 2011-01-23T00:59:00Z You cut the radicchio into wedges and cook it in a cast-iron pan, on the grill or under the broiler until well charred and slightly softened. Chef’s Choice: A Dreamy Menu, Inspired by Italy 2021-02-26T05:00:00Z Pairing them with softly draped jodhpur pants and thick platform shoes helped to soften the silhouette, as did cutting her masculine designs from feminine fabrics like chiffon, taffeta and satin. Fashion Review: Anne Val?rie Hash and ?Le Smoking? 2012-03-02T18:55:58Z But she softens her stance through anecdote, relating how she moved from the mansion built by her late husband to a more modest abode, using the proceeds to devote herself to "matters I consider important." "Boardwalk Empire" recap: Everyone's screwed 2010-10-25T05:01:00Z Stacked four high at their tallest, the year-old bales softened these past few sultry months, and some began to lean. In Montgomery County, she is reinventing the public park 2015-08-13T04:00:00Z The jabs at fan fiction as a form are softened by the image of these stars seeming so game in engaging in a bit of performative humiliation. When Fan Fiction and Reality Collide 2017-06-21T04:00:00Z Occasionally Eckhart gets all choked up as he bonds with his men, whose initial suspicions soften, blubberingly, into a massed khaki bromance. Battle: Los Angeles ? review 2011-03-10T22:00:00Z Duveen, whose health and career are both uncertain — his status as a trustee of the National Gallery in London hangs in the balance — strikes a conciliatory note that gradually softens Berenson’s gruff rigidity. | 'The Old Masters': Showdown at the Italian Villa, Easels Drawn 2011-01-28T03:01:21Z Another recipe omits the borax, which is of questionable safety, but adds baking soda to soften fabrics and eliminate odors; kosher salt for enhanced cleaning and softness; and essential oils for their aromas. How Low Can You Go (Sofa-wise)? 2021-10-28T04:00:00Z But the tension between keeping his songs brutal and softening their edges remains — can Bobby Shmurda live a gentler life but keep his music rough? Albums by Nick Jonas, Bobby Shmurda and New Basement Tapes 2014-11-10T05:00:00Z While other local clubs may offer members well-waxed and cigar-scented havens burnished by custom and softened by wear, the Core club revels in the shiny aura of the newly arrived. Portals to Power 2011-06-17T19:58:06Z His piercing gray eyes soften for a moment as he contemplates the pint of Guinness that’s been set in front of him at just the right temperature. Clive Owen, Suave and Roguish, on Making His Broadway Debut in ‘Old Times’ 2015-09-16T04:00:00Z And when you cook the pumpkin in the cream and milk, it softens the skin of the pumpkin so that you can blend that right into the pie. "Pies transform a meal": Take this master class in pie making with Peete's Pie owner Petra Paredez 2020-11-21T05:00:00Z Armitage is known for her sharp application of ballet technique; here she also smooths and softens it, evoking Japanese calligraphy. 7 Dance Performances to See in N.Y.C. This Weekend 2019-04-11T04:00:00Z The art style, with its warm hues and stabilizing outlines, softens the slightly clinical nature of the game’s challenge. The Best Video Games of 2019 2019-12-17T05:00:00Z Mr. Henry’s screenplay, which was nominated for an Oscar, appropriated much of Mr. Webb’s dialogue but softened the smug, unpleasant edge evinced by Benjamin in the novel. Buck Henry, Who Helped Create ‘Get Smart’ and Adapt ‘The Graduate,’ Dies at 89 2020-01-09T05:00:00Z But a loose-muscle swing softens the metric modes, and the result is sometimes like a new kind of rumba. 12 Pop, Rock and Jazz Concerts to Check Out in N.Y.C. This Weekend 2018-11-15T05:00:00Z To all this fussing, Ms. Elliott has been a more than willing accomplice, and why they have got along so well may have less to do with his softening than with her being equally fanatic. Tony Kushner, at Peace? Not Exactly. But Close. 2018-03-07T05:00:00Z In an eighth, “Evening Star,” the blurred landscape begins to resemble a woman’s leg, setting the stage for eight softened watercolor renderings of sturdy female nudes, on the adjacent wall. Georgia O’Keeffe, ‘Modernized’ by MoMA 2023-04-27T04:00:00Z Though still brusque, a great deal of his time is spent in the company of Jewell's widow, and that may account for his softening. 'A Death in Summer': Benjamin Black's fourth mystery featuring his intuitive investigator Quirke 2011-07-13T22:01:05Z Despite our tragically riven society, museums, galleries and alternative spaces often reflected a softening of divisions and hierarchies with exhibitions that were less white, less male or less doctrinaire in historical view. The Best Art of 2016 2016-12-07T05:00:00Z And she knew she had been fully accepted as a year-rounder when the women at the local hardware store began to soften. For Jenny Allen, She and Her House ‘Were Sort of in This Together’ 2017-07-29T04:00:00Z |
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