CUSHIONS Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

cushions 1 of 2

noun

plural of cushion

as in buffers

something that serves as a protective barrier used a blanket as a cushion between the two tables in the moving van

Synonyms & Similar Words

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cushions

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cushion

as in softens

to lessen the shock of a substantial nest egg helped to cushion the sudden loss of her job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cushions

Noun

Removable cushions make spot-cleaning easier which is especially helpful with kids, pets, snacks, or all of the above. — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 If your couch cushions are sagging and the springs are worn, use this 62%-off sofa deal as an excuse to upgrade ahead of hosting season. — Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026 The table then stows away, and the bench cushions rearrange to create a side-facing love seat positioned perfectly for viewing the drop-down projection screen just above the entryway. — New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 Similar to traditional sofas, the standard (and most comfortable for the widest span of heights) height for daybeds is around 18 inches—most models on this list are between 16 and 19 inches tall from the floor to the top of the seat cushions. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 Leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union likes to shake the couch cushions in other people’s houses looking for change to pay their bills. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 The Bose QuietComfort over-ear headphones combine legendary noise cancellation with plush ear cushions designed for fatigue-free all-day study sessions. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

While the sole is much thinner than many of the other options on our list, it’s made out of plush memory foam that cushions the foot with every step. — Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 30 July 2026 The glossy oil-gel formula cushions lips with squalane, passion fruit seed oil, and sodium hyaluronate for juicy hydration, while a hint of peppermint and menthol delivers a subtle cooling sensation that makes lips feel instantly refreshed. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 July 2026 The egg-crate foam promotes airflow and cushions pressure points, and the zip-off cover is machine-washable for quick refreshes. — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 25 May 2026 Shoppers are raving about this $7 kneeling pad that cushions aging knees against hard, damp, and dirty ground. — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 The comfy gel pad cushions your joints, and provides gentle compression to reduce pain and swelling. — Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Its dense, ointment-like texture melts on contact, forming a protective seal that cushions fragile skin while locking in moisture. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026 It’s made with a flexible and plush EVA midsole that cushions every step and absorbs shock keeping foot pain away. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026 In a healthy economy, the middle and working classes provide a floor of stable demand that cushions this volatility. — Katica Roy, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cushions

Noun

Seko is advising shippers to build seven- to 10-day-plus buffers into east China bookings and prepare for potential port omissions, blank sailings and cargo diversions to alternative gateways including Qingdao, Busan and Hong Kong.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
If experimentally realized, programmable delay systems like this could eventually be used to synchronize optical signals, create adjustable delay lines and buffers, reshape optical transmission bands, and perform frequency conversion.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of buffers

Verb

Talanx German insurer Talanx 's lean cost base and 6 billion euros of resilience reserves can help sustain earnings growth, even as pricing softens in its reinsurance and corporate-specialty units, according to Goldman.

— Hugh Leask, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Specs There are multiple textures at play in House of Leon’s Milan daybed, where tactile bouclé softens the look of a sleek stainless steel.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of softens

Noun

Finally cleared this offseason to fully do so and strapping on the pads again, the last thing the Bengals tight end wanted to hear was that he was being held out of any games, practices or even drills.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
The majority of their starters spent the second half conversing with folks in the stands, pads long gone, while Jones took the field for his first snaps as a true freshman.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of pads

Noun

Driving fatigue is very real, thanks to so many Mad Maxes riding bumpers or blowing through red lights or completely ignoring the speed limit.

— Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
In a flat pinball machine, a ball could stay trapped bouncing between three bumpers forever.

— Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of bumpers

Noun

Drops railway temperatures To prevent high-speed aerodynamic forces from ripping the heat shields off, researchers secured the magnetic strips with dual mechanical fasteners.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are designed to look like the shields and spears of African Masai warriors.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of shields

Noun

Speaking to the state Transportation Commission last week in San Diego, Kosup stressed that another reason for the fenders is that Navy ships have also gotten larger since the bridge opened.

— David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
The other stews help out with lines and fenders, and the docking is a success.

— Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of fenders

Noun

The caterpillar even guards the wasp’s cocoons before eventually dying.

— Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
Regularly inspect your clothing and textiles, such as curtains, tablecloths, and cloth napkins, for signs of moth activity, such as holes, larvae, or cocoons.

— Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

Definition of cocoons

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cushionings

cushions

cushy

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“Cushions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cushions. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cushions

noun

verb

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