Meanings
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1
verb
to make food or drink taste sweeter, usually by adding sugar or another sweetener
She used honey to sweeten the tea.
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2
verb
to make an experience, task, or situation more pleasant or agreeable
Music helped to sweeten the long hours of repetitive work.
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3
verb
to make an offer or agreement more attractive by adding a benefit
The company offered extra leave to sweeten the deal.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Etymology
Formed in English from sweet + the verb-forming suffix -en, literally 'make sweet.' The figurative senses extend pleasant taste to improved feelings, easier work, and more attractive offers. It displaced Middle English verbs borrowed from Old French that had the same basic meaning.