Spanish Conversation · Level 69
60 words
Spanish word
suavizar
Pronunciation
IPA/swaβiˈθaɾ/
Meaning
- verbease
Example
El masaje suaviza el dolor.
The massage eases the pain.
More examples
Intentaron suavizar la tensión antes de la reunión.
They tried to ease the tension before the meeting.
Core concept
A softening filter that blurs harsh edges.
Common phrases
suavizar la voz
soften the voice
suavizar el tono
soften the tone
suavizar las críticas
soften the criticism
Similar words
moderar: Limits the intensity of speech or behavior to keep it within reasonable bounds.
calmar: Soothes emotional disturbance and reduces nervousness or agitation.
atenuar: Diminishes the intensity or severity of a condition or phenomenon.
amortiguar: Attenuates physical jolts or vibrations to reduce their immediate sting.
Definition in Spanish
Disminuir la intensidad de una sensación, emoción, crítica o expresión para que resulte menos fuerte y más aceptable.
Word origin
From Spanish suave (from Latin suāvis) plus the verb-forming suffix -izar, literally 'make soft' and extended to mean reduce the intensity of sensations, emotions or expressions.
Usage tips
- Suavizar often appears with a direct object (suavizar algo) in criticism or description, and speakers commonly add a concrete example or alternative to make the softened remark clear.
Other meanings
- softenverb
- smoothverb
Related words
- suavizaciónsofteningnoun
- suavizantesoftenernoun
- suavidadsoftnessnoun