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 L.A. Times Daily, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Guardian, The Telegraph, the Evening Standard, The Washington Post and the New York Times.

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