softened

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

"The doctor aspirated the fluid from the patient's knee to relieve the swelling. "

"Do you need a gift for that special someone?"

"As soon as she heard that her father had died, she went into a rage and beat the wall with her fists until her knuckles bled."

"Professor Smith, the head of the history department, gave a fascinating lecture on the Roman Empire. "

"The regional school competition was only for students in the western part of the city. "

"The characteristic smell of freshly baked bread always reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen. "

"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."

"The neighboring country's invasion of the smaller nation disrupted the delicate peace in the region. "

"The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue."

"The secret passage undermined the foundation of the old house, making it unstable. "

"The army used artillery to destroy the enemy's fortifications. "