smoothed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "smoothed" is a correct word and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe the result of making something even or regular by moving it over and over with a flat object. For example, "He smoothed out the sand with a rake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Abbas pressed ahead with the application to the UN, and a fortnight later the general assembly backed the bid, which smoothed the way for the Palestinians to attempt to bring cases against Israel at the international criminal court.

The Guardian

Patricia Hewitt smoothed the passage of her reforms by "apologising" for what she described as her "too prescriptive" insistence that primary care trusts must contract out their district nursing and family-planning clinics.

The Guardian

That line had been pretty well aired in February when Jenkins smoothed: "I see becoming the 'go-to' bank as a five to 10-year journey," but no matter.

The Guardian - Business

People drink to soften the edges, I often told myself – but my edges were too jagged to be smoothed away with one beer and being under the influence only made my anxieties worse.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ambassadors who chair the WTO's agriculture and NAMA negotiations have smoothed out a lot of rough areas, but would still have liked to leave ministers with less work to do.

The Economist

The upshot of such quotas, subsidies and controls is to dump all the imbalances that in another business might be smoothed out through small adjustments onto the one unregulated part of the food chain: the international market.For decades, this produced low world prices and disincentives to poor farmers.

The Economist

It was all smoothed over, as things tended to be when the top brass were on his payroll and whisky flowed.

The Economist

Similarly, any irregularities on the surface of a deflated balloon are quickly smoothed away by blowing it up.

The Economist

Iraq has now smoothed over the airline unpleasantness with a $500m deal and promised to maintain borders as mandated by the United Nations.Saudi Arabia, unrepresented in Baghdad since 2003 as a sign of its disdain for Iraq's Shia-dominated government, recently broke the ice by appointing a non-resident ambassador.

The Economist

The Supreme Court smoothed his path, by allowing a civil suit to proceed against a president while in office.

The Economist

The parchment, which has never been cut or smoothed, retains the outline of a sheep, the impression of its spinal column still visible.Light levels are low to avoid damaging the drawings.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "smoothed" in writing, consider whether a more precise verb might better convey the specific action you intend. For example, use "polished" when discussing appearance or "eased" when referring to difficulties.

Common error

Avoid using "smoothed" in abstract contexts where it becomes vague. Instead of saying "The process was smoothed", specify how it was made easier, such as "The process was streamlined" or "The process was simplified".

Linguistic Context

The word "smoothed" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb smooth. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, showing it's typically used to describe the action of making something even, regular, or easier.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Ludwig AI confirms that "smoothed" is a grammatically correct and versatile word, frequently used to describe making something even, easier, or more agreeable. With a "Very common" frequency, it appears primarily in "News & Media" contexts. While generally neutral, it's important to consider more precise alternatives depending on the specific context to avoid vagueness. Common related phrases include "made easier" and "evened out". Remember to specify the manner in which something was "smoothed" to enhance clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evened out

Highlights the creation of uniformity or balance, mirroring "smoothed" in contexts where irregularities are corrected.

levelled

Similar to "evened out", this emphasizes removing differences in height or quality, comparable to "smoothed" in specific physical contexts.

made easier

Focuses on the act of facilitating or easing a process, similar to "smoothed" but less about surface texture.

eased

Highlights the reduction of difficulty or tension, overlapping with "smoothed" in scenarios where problems are mitigated.

facilitated

Emphasizes the act of making something easier or assisting progress, akin to "smoothed" in contexts involving overcoming obstacles.

polished

Emphasizes refinement and enhancement, sharing a sense of improvement with "smoothed", especially in figurative senses.

alleviated

Stresses the lessening of pain or difficulty, sharing a sense of reduction or improvement with "smoothed".

buffed

Implies polishing or refining a surface, akin to "smoothed" when enhancing appearance or performance.

mitigated

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of something, similar to "smoothed" when addressing negative aspects.

rectified

Focuses on correcting errors or injustices, similar to "smoothed" in contexts where problems are resolved or amended.

FAQs

How can I use "smoothed" in a sentence?

You can use "smoothed" to describe making a surface even, like "He "smoothed" the clay with his hands", or figuratively, like "The agreement "smoothed" relations between the countries".

What are some alternatives to the word "smoothed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "eased", "facilitated", "alleviated", or "rectified".

Is it correct to say "smoothed out" instead of "smoothed"?

Yes, "smoothed out" is a phrasal verb that can be used interchangeably with "smoothed" in many contexts, often emphasizing the thoroughness of the action.

What's the difference between "smoothed" and "polished"?

"Smoothed" generally refers to making something even or less rough, while "polished" implies making something shiny and refined. The choice depends on whether you are emphasizing evenness or shine.