The word sweeten means to make something sweeter, more pleasant, or more agreeable. It can refer to physically adding sugar or another sweetener to food or drink, or metaphorically improving a situation, offer, or mood to make it more appealing or acceptable. In interpersonal contexts, it often involves softening harsh feelings, calming tensions, or persuading someone with positive gestures or incentives.
Ten Sentences Using “Sweeten”
- She added a teaspoon of honey to sweeten her tea.
- To sweeten the deal, the salesperson offered a free warranty.
- His kind words helped to sweeten the tense atmosphere during the meeting.
- The chef used a little sugar to sweeten the sour sauce.
- They offered a bonus to sweeten the job offer and attract more applicants.
- A heartfelt apology can often sweeten a damaged relationship.
- He brought chocolates to sweeten his apology after forgetting their anniversary.
- Adding music to the room helped to sweeten the mood at the party.
- The company tried to sweeten its proposal by including additional benefits.
- A small act of kindness can sweeten even the most challenging situations.
Synonyms for “Sweeten”
- Soften
- Improve
- Enhance
- Appease
- Pacify
- Soothen
- Better
- Brighten
- Lighten
- Mitigate
Antonyms for “Sweeten”
- Sour
- Bitter
- Worsen
- Aggravate
- Exacerbate
- Deteriorate
- Harden
- Intensify
- Harsh
- Ruin
Phrasal Verbs for “Sweeten”
- Add to (to enhance or improve something, often to sweeten it)
- Smooth over (to resolve tension or improve a situation)
- Talk someone around (to persuade someone by sweetening an offer)
- Win over (to make someone favorably inclined, often by sweetening the deal)
- Lay on (to provide more of something pleasant to sweeten the mood)
- Ease up on (to lessen strictness or harshness to sweeten a situation)
Idiomatic Expressions for “Sweeten”
- Sugarcoat the pill: To make something unpleasant more acceptable or palatable.
- The icing on the cake: Something that sweetens an already good situation.
- Make it worth someone’s while: To sweeten an offer by adding benefits or incentives.
- Add fuel to the fire: To worsen rather than sweeten a situation (used ironically).
- Kill them with kindness: To overwhelm someone with kindness to sweeten their attitude.
- A spoonful of sugar: Something small and pleasant that makes a difficult situation easier.
- Smooth ruffled feathers: To sweeten tensions and calm someone down.
