as in to soften
to lessen the shock of
a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cushion
Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The Panthers entered Saturday up four points on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top stop in the Atlantic and have a six-point cushion on the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning with 16 games left to play.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Notably, unlike in 2022, bonds have provided a safe haven as stocks have declined, which can help cushion the impact of a portfolio.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Noun
More homeowners carriers’ are operating with eroding capital cushions.
—Ron Lieber, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2025
The Panthers entered Saturday up four points on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the top stop in the Atlantic and have a six-point cushion on the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning with 16 games left to play.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
Isbell harbored a host of strengths — pitch control, projection and phrasing, plus a warm drawl that cushioned sharp syllables with soft landings — that increased his flair for storytelling and communicating feelings ranging from heartbreak to empathy and anger with clarity and directness.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Notably, unlike in 2022, bonds have provided a safe haven as stocks have declined, which can help cushion the impact of a portfolio.
—Bill Stone, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cushion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushion
Noun
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And don't forget to tend to your emergency savings, given that having a cash buffer can help in times of financial stress and keep you from raiding your retirement account, noted Transamerica's Collinson.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2025
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Another option that offers even more downside protection are buffer ETFs, which help investors to potentially avoid substantial losses, capping downside risk via options.—
Anna Gleason,
CNBC,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Reduce heat to medium, and cook, uncovered, until vegetables soften slightly, 8 to 10 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
17 Mar. 2025
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The data, released by the Census Bureau, will offer a look at how Americans spent their money during a month in which consumer confidence was softening amid tariff uncertainty.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Matthew J. Belvedere,
CNBC,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Future May Be Port-Free Just imagine: no USB-C connector at the base of the phone, with only charging through a charging pad as an option, and with data synced exclusively wirelessly.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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While there is no number pad, Selecting between cooking options is easy using the dial and display.—
Meg St-Esprit,
Bon Appétit,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Here’s what to know about Chief Justice John Roberts and his complicated relationship with President Donald Trump: A history of enabling Trump's legal shield Roberts’ tenure as Chief Justice has coincided with some of the most tumultuous legal battles involving a sitting President.—
Nik Popli,
TIME,
19 Mar. 2025
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The photon shields look like an Elizabethan collar.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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No matter the degree of pitch or roll, its frame and bumpers never made contact with the ground, either, thanks to 31- and 30-degree approach and departure angles, respectively, plus an impressive 9.5 inches of ground clearance.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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For instance, the price of an aluminum bumper or radiator purchased by an automaker from a Canadian or Mexican parts supplier would likely increase.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cushion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushion. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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