cushion
noun
cush·ion
| \ ˈku̇-shən
\
\
Definition of cushion
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a soft pillow or pad usually used for sitting, reclining, or kneeling
2
: a bodily part resembling a pad
3
: something resembling a cushion: such as
a
: pillow sense 2
b
: rat sense 3
c
: a pad of springy rubber along the inside of the rim of a billiard table
d
: a padded insert in a shoe
e
: an elastic body for reducing shock
f
: a mat laid under a large rug to ease the effect of wear
4a
: something (such as an economic factor or a medical procedure) serving to mitigate the effects of disturbances or disorders
b
: a reserve supply (as of money)
c
: a comfortable lead
a 4–0 cushion in the ninth inning
cushion
verb
cushioned;
cushioning\ ˈku̇-sh(ə-)niŋ
\
\
Definition of cushion (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to seat or place on a cushion
2
: to suppress by ignoring
3
: to furnish with a cushion
a cushioned seat
4a
: to mitigate the effects of
trying to cushion the blow
b
: to protect against force or shock
cushion the ride
5
: to check gradually so as to minimize shock of moving parts
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Other Words from cushion
Noun
cushionless
\ ˈku̇-shən-ləs
\
adjective
\
adjective
cushiony
\ ˈku̇-shə-nē
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for cushion
Synonyms: Noun
buffer, bumper, cocoon, cushioning, fender, pad
Synonyms: Verb
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Examples of cushion in a Sentence
Noun
There is a cushion under the rug to protect the floor. We didn't have a financial cushion when my husband lost his job.Verb
The pile of leaves helped cushion his fall. The tax cut is meant to cushion the blow of soaring gas prices.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The hotel plans to provide cushions, so no chairs or blankets are requires for a comfy experience. — Jaclyn Reiss, BostonGlobe.com, "3 free things to do in Boston this Labor Day weekend," 29 Aug. 2019 Natasha Zorbas also had consecutive block winners which widened The Woodlands’ lead to 21-15 and provide some cushion in the home stretch. — Ted Dunnam, Houston Chronicle, "Volleyball: The Woodlands rallies past San Antonio Reagan for title," 10 Aug. 2019 Cheaper valuations also could provide a cushion for Chinese stocks, said Jim McCafferty, joint-head of Asia-Pacific equity research at Nomura in Hong Kong. — Joanne Chiu, WSJ, "Chinese Stocks Are at the Mercy of Trade Talks but Cushioned by Beijing," 29 June 2019 Brand dominance is a powerful weapon that provides a cushion when a product or company leader inevitably stumbles. — Nancy Tengler, USA TODAY, "3 things to watch when you're buying stocks for the long term," 14 June 2019 Some families can build up savings to provide a cushion. — Fox News, "A lifeline for workers who face hardship between paychecks," 6 Aug. 2018 Aside from providing a practical cushion for fragile goods, bubble wrap is an easy way to entertain little kids (and many adults). — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Would You Wear a Bubble Wrap Hoodie? King Princess Makes the Case," 27 July 2018 The additional money gives the state a slightly bigger cushion in case an economic downturn reduces future revenue. — Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State collects $76 million more in taxes than projected, new report says," 26 Aug. 2019 Amed Rosario broke a 1-1 tie with a third-inning homer and Jacob deGrom (7-7) gave himself a three-run cushion with a two-run single. — Ronald Blum, sun-sentinel.com, "Marlins give up three home runs in seventh inning as Mets get doubleheader sweep," 6 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Instead of significantly cushioning his championship lead, Newgarden only gained a few points of breathing room. — Tyler Kraft, Indianapolis Star, "IndyCar: History nearly repeats as Josef Newgarden limps across finish line at Gateway," 25 Aug. 2019 Select a supportive chair with a moderate amount of cushioning. — Mayo Clinic, chicagotribune.com, "Tailbone pain often goes away without medical treatment," 19 Aug. 2019 All of these companies are part of gigantic multinational corporations and have deep libraries and other means of cushioning the blows that come when a movie flops. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "Vice Producer Going Bankrupt," 12 Aug. 2019 Iranian authorities are looking for other ways to cushion the blow of U.S. sanctions, and have been huddling with European parties to the nuclear deal to keep the pact alive. — Asa Fitch, WSJ, "Iran Moves to Shelter Millions as U.S. Sanctions Bite," 25 Oct. 2018 China responded with a boycott of American farm products and allowed its currency to weaken, signaling that this can help cushion the tariff blow. — Los Angeles Times, "Trump administration eases Huawei sanctions for another 90 days," 19 Aug. 2019 Recent reports suggest Apple had been exploring moving some of its production out of China to help cushion the cost of potential future tariffs. — Rachel Layne, CBS News, "Apple lifted by delay in U.S. tariffs on electronics made in China," 13 Aug. 2019 In impassioned moments like this, the characters sing soaring vocal lines cushioned by the orchestra. — New York Times, "Review: Police Violence Reaches Opera in ‘Blue’," 2 Aug. 2019 Wolverine’s good looking, lightweight, 6-inch moc-toe boot features a breathable fabric lining, nylon shank, and a cushioned, oil-resistant outsole. — Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "The 10 Best Work Boots for Any Type of Job," 2 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cushion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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