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soften criteria

[ˈsɔfən kraɪˈtɪəriə]
verb phrase
flexibilizar critérios
1. to make requirements or standards less strict or demanding
The university decided to soften criteria for international applicants.
A universidade decidiu flexibilizar critérios para candidatos internacionais.
2. to reduce the severity or rigidity of evaluation standards
They agreed to soften criteria to accommodate more participants.
Concordaram em flexibilizar critérios para acomodar mais participantes.
Synonyms
relax standardsease requirementsloosen criteriareduce standardsmake less stringent
Antonyms
tighten criteriastrengthen standardsincrease requirementsmake more rigorous

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
flexibilizar critérios
most common usage in Brazil
General Brazilian
suavizar critérios
alternative form, slightly less formal
Portugal
flexibilizar critérios
standard usage in European Portuguese
Portugal
afrouxar critérios
alternative, more colloquial form

Related Idioms & Phrases

ease up on standards
lower the bar
give some leeway
bend the rules
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