1. to make rules, requirements, or criteria less strict or rigorous
The company decided to soften standards for hiring new employees.
A empresa decidiu flexibilizar os critérios de contratação de novos funcionários.
2. to reduce the severity or strictness of established norms or expectations
The school board voted to soften standards on dress code violations.
A diretoria da escola votou para flexibilizar os critérios sobre violações do código de vestimenta.