Softened (8)

I think it could be either:

relented

assuaged

'softened' is the definition.
('relent' can be a synonym of 'soften')

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for relented that I've seen before include "Give in (to pleas?)" , "Grew less severe" , "Became less severe, let up" , "thought better of it" , "Gave in (to pleas?)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, The Guardian, the New York Times, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard and the L.A. Times Daily.

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