Soothes (7)
(Other definitions for softens that I've seen before include "begins to warm" , "Relaxes" , "Makes less hard" , "Moderates" .)
(Other definitions for placates that I've seen before include "Calms down" , "'Appeases, mollifies (8)'" , "Assuages" .)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">soothes</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for calms that I've seen before include "Pacifies" , "Soothes" .)