sweeten

verb

sweet·​en ˈswē-tᵊn 

sweetened; sweetening ˈswē-tᵊn-iŋ 

ˈswēt-niŋ

transitive verb

1

: to make sweet

2

: to soften the mood or attitude of

3

: to make less painful or trying

4

: to free from a harmful or undesirable quality or substance

especially : to remove sulfur compounds from

sweeten natural gas

5

: to make more valuable or attractive

sweeten the deal

: such as

a

: to increase (a pot not won on the previous deal) by anteing prior to another deal

b

: to place additional securities as collateral for (a loan)

intransitive verb

: to become sweet

sweetener

ˈswēt-nər, 

ˈswē-tᵊn-ər 

noun

Synonyms of sweeten

• candy
• enhance
• improve
• spruce

Examples of sweeten in a Sentence

He sweetened his cereal a little.

He sweetened the deal with a large signing bonus.

Recent Examples on the Web

And cacao, originally used in ceremonies honoring the gods, became popular after it was sweetened when the Spanish conquered Mexico in the early 1500s. —Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026

Four bee colonies now help produce the White House’s signature honey, which officials say is used by residence chefs to sweeten teas, make salad dressings and create desserts. —Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026

Flavor the tangy, no-bake filling with crushed pineapple, sweetened coconut flakes, and a splash of rum. —Jenavieve Christensen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026

Last June, Disney further sweetened the postseason pot by triggering the option for TNT to pick up one of the semifinals. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sweeten

• pre-sweeten
• sugar/sweeten the pill
• sweeten up

Rhymes for sweeten

• beaten
• cretin
• eaten
• teton
• wheaten
• phenacetin
• sisseton
• unbeaten
• uneaten
• wahpeton

Kids Definition

sweeten

verb

sweet·​en ˈswēt-ᵊn 

sweetened; sweetening ˈswēt-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become sweet

sweetener

ˈswēt-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun