sweetening

/ˈswiːtənɪŋ/
verb
  1. Present participle of sweeten; making something taste sweeter.
    • He was sweetening the tea while it was still hot.
    • The baker is sweetening the cake batter with vanilla and honey.
    • She is sweetening her coffee with a spoonful of sugar.
  2. Making an offer or deal more attractive, usually by adding something desirable.
    • The landlord is sweetening the lease by offering the first month rent-free.
    • They are sweetening the contract with a higher salary.
    • The seller is sweetening the deal by including free delivery.
noun
  1. Something that makes food or drink taste sweeter, such as sugar or a substitute.
    • Artificial sweetening is often used in diet sodas.
    • She added a little sweetening to the lemonade to balance the sourness.
    • The recipe calls for a natural sweetening like honey or maple syrup.
  2. The act of making something more pleasant or attractive, often by offering a bonus or incentive.
    • A free dessert was a sweetening for the expensive dinner.
    • The company offered a signing bonus as a sweetening to the job offer.
    • The extra vacation days were a sweetening that convinced him to take the position.
What does "sweetening" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean