Definition

A substance that is used to make something softer, often used in laundry to make clothes feel smoother.

Example

I added fabric softener to the wash to make my clothes feel softer.

Conversation

Have you tried using that new fabric softener yet?

Not yet, but I’ve heard it makes clothes feel great.

I really love how fluffy my towels are after using the softener.

I need to give it a shot, then! Fluffy towels sound amazing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Softener → It is formed from "soft" (from Old English *softe*, meaning not hard or firm) and "-ener" (a suffix used to indicate a person or thing that performs a specific action). The word "softener" refers to a substance that makes something softer.

Memory Tip

Think of something that makes things 'not hard' ('soft') — that's what a softener does.

Visually Confused Words