Word forms: comparative softer, superlative softest
1. adjective
Something that is soft is pleasant to touch, and not rough or hard.
Regular use of a body lotion will keep the skin soft and supple.
When it's dry, brush the hair using a soft, nylon baby brush.
...warm, soft, white towels.
Synonyms: velvety, smooth, silky, furry More Synonyms of soft
softnessuncountable noun
The sea air robbed her hair of its softness.
2. adjective
Something that is soft changes shape or bends easily when you press it.
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
Add enough milk to form a soft dough.
...soft cheese.
Synonyms: yielding, flexible, pliable, cushioned More Synonyms of soft
3. adjective
Something that has a soft appearance has smooth curves rather than sharp or distinct edges.
This is a smart, yet soft and feminine look.
...the soft skin on the baby's face.
softlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The old man had a softly wrinkled face.
...a fresh, modern hairstyle which has long layers falling softly on the neck.
4. adjective
Something that is soft is very gentle and has no force. For example, a soft sound or voice is quiet and not harsh. A soft light or colour is pleasant to look at because it is not bright.
There was a soft tapping on my door.
When he woke again he could hear soft music.
...a soft Irish accent.
...soft muted colours.
A soft spring rain had fallen all day.
Synonyms: quiet, low, gentle, sweet More Synonyms of soft
softlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
'I'm sorry,' he said softly.
She crossed the softly lit room.
She bent forward and kissed him softly.
5. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are softon someone, you do not treat them as strictly or severely as you should do.
[disapproval]
The president says the measure is soft and weak on criminals. [+ on]
He had initially thought Byrnes too soft with the Russians.
Synonyms: lenient, easy-going, lax, liberal More Synonyms of soft
6. adjective
If you say that someone has a softheart, you mean that they are sensitive and sympathetic towards other people.
[approval]
Her rather tough and worldly exterior hides a very soft and sensitive heart.
Synonyms: kind, tender, sentimental, compassionate More Synonyms of soft
7. adjective
You use soft to describe a way of life that is easy and involves very little work.
The regime at Latchmere could be seen as a soft option.
There is no way that 20 years of soft living could be lost in the first 30 minutes'exercise.
8. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Soft drugs are drugs, such as cannabis, which are illegal but which many people do not consider to be strong or harmful.
9. adjective
A soft target is a place or person that can easily be attacked.
People who carry a lot of cash about are a very soft target.
10. adjective
Soft water does not contain much of the mineral calcium and so makes bubbles easily when you use soap.
11.
See to have a soft spot for someone
12. a soft touch
More Synonyms of soft
soft in British English
(sɒft)
adjective
1.
easy to dent, work, or cut without shattering; malleable
2.
not hard; giving little or no resistance to pressure or weight
3.
fine, light, smooth, or fluffy to the touch
4.
gentle; tranquil
5.
(of music, sounds, etc) low and pleasing
6.
(of light, colour, etc) not excessively bright or harsh
7.
(of a breeze, climate, etc) temperate, mild, or pleasant
8. dialect
drizzly or rainy
a soft day
the weather has turned soft
9.
slightly blurred; not sharply outlined
soft focus
10.
(of a diet) consisting of easily digestible foods
11.
kind or lenient, often excessively so
12.
easy to influence or impose upon
13.
prepared to compromise; not doctrinaire
the soft left
14. informal, derogatory
feeble or silly (often in the phrase soft in the head)
15.
unable to endure hardship, esp through too much pampering
16.
physically out of condition; flabby
soft muscles
17.
loving; tender
soft words
18. informal
requiring little exertion; easy
a soft job
19. chemistry
(of water) relatively free of mineral salts and therefore easily able to make soap lather
20.
(of a drug such as cannabis) nonaddictive or only mildly addictive
Compare hard (sense 19)
21.
(of news coverage) concentrating on trivial stories or those with human interest
22. phonetics
a. an older word for lenis
b.
(not in technical usage) denoting the consonants c and g in English when they are pronounced as palatal or alveolar fricatives or affricates (s, /dʒ/, /ʃ/, /ð/, /tʃ/) before e and i, rather than as velar stops (k, g)
c.
(in the Slavonic languages) palatalized before a front vowel or a special character (soft sign) written as Ь
23.
a.
unprotected against attack
a soft target
b. military
unarmoured, esp as applied to a truck by comparison with a tank
24. finance, mainly US
(of prices, a market, etc) unstable and tending to decline
25.
(of a currency) in relatively little demand, esp because of a weak balance of payments situation
26.
(of radiation, such as X-rays and ultraviolet radiation) having low energy and not capable of deep penetration of materials
27. physics
(of valves or tubes) only partially evacuated
28.
related to the performance of non-specific, undefinable tasks
soft skills such as customer services and office support
29. soft on
adverb
30.
in a soft manner
to speak soft
noun
31.
a soft object, part, or piece
32. informal softie
exclamation archaic
33.
quiet!
34.
wait!
Derived forms
softly (ˈsoftly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English sōfte; related to Old Saxon sāfti, Old High German semfti gentle
soft in American English
(sɔft; sɑft)
adjective
1.
giving way easily under pressure, as a feather pillow or moist clay
2.
easily cut, marked, shaped, or worn away, as pine wood or pure gold
3.
not hard for its kind; not as hard as is normal, desirable, etc.
soft butter
4.
smooth or fine to the touch; not rough, harsh, or coarse
5.
a.
bland; not acid, sour, or sharp
b.
easy to digest because free from roughage
said of a diet
6.
nonalcoholic
said of drinks
7.
having in solution few or none of the mineral salts that interfere with the lathering and cleansing properties of soap
said of water
8.
mild, gentle, or temperate, as a breeze, the weather, climate, etc.
9.
a.
weak or delicate; not strong or vigorous; esp., not able to endure hardship, as because of easy living
b.
having flabby muscles
10.
requiring little effort; easy
a soft job
11.
a.
kind or gentle, esp. to the point of weakness; lenient or compassionate
b.
easily impressed, influenced, or imposed upon
12.
not bright, intense, or glaring; subdued
said of color or light
13.
showing little contrast or distinctness; not sharp in lines, tones, focus, etc., as a photograph
14.
gentle; low; not loud or harsh
said of sound
15.
based on data from interviews, surveys, etc., rather than from controlled, repeatable experiments
soft evidence, soft sciences such as sociology
16.
replenished by nature, or capable of being used with relatively little damage to the naturalenvironment
solar power is a soft energy source
17.
providing information other than the basic facts of a news story
features are soft news
18. Finance
a.
unstable and declining
said of a market, prices, etc.
b.
not readily accepted as foreign exchange
said of certain currencies
c.
having very favorable terms
said of a loan
19. Military
above ground and vulnerable
said of targets or bases
20. Phonetics
a.
designating c sounded as in voice or g sounded as in age
b.
voiced
c.
palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages are
; not used in these ways as a technical term by phoneticians
21. Radiology
of low penetrating power
said of X-rays
adverb
22.
softly; gently; quietly
noun
23.
something soft
interjection Archaic
24.
be quiet; hush
25.
slow up; stop
Idioms:
be soft on
soft in the head
SYNONYMY NOTE: soft, in this connotation, implies an absence or reduction of all that is harsh, rough,too intense, etc., so as to be pleasing to the senses [soft colors, a soft voice]; bland implies such an absence of irritation, stimulation, pungency, etc. in something asto make it soothing, unexciting, and hence, sometimes, uninteresting [bland foods, climate, etc.]; mild applies to that which is not as rough, harsh, irritating, etc. as it might be [a mild cigarette, criticism, etc.]; gentle, often equivalent to , mild, carries a more positive connotation of being pleasantly soothing or tranquil [a gentle breeze, voice, etc.]
OPPOSITES: harsh, rough
Derived forms
softly (ˈsoftly)
adverb
softness (ˈsoftness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE softe, gentle, quiet < sefte, akin to Ger sanft < IE base *sem-, together, together with > smooth, same: basic sense “fitting, friendly, suited to”
More idioms containing
soft
have a soft spot for someone
someone is a soft touch
Examples of 'soft' in a sentence
soft
Opt for soft greys and browns for eyes and use liquid foundation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Leave for a few days and then use as a soft soap.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
They were just part of my soft toy collection.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We want to show her how easy it is for her to look softer and more feminine.
The Sun (2007)
Warm metal lighting brings soft fabrics to life.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Press hard or soft or angle it for different results.
The Sun (2015)
We still have a soft spot for losers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So have the guys gone a little soft?
The Sun (2007)
There were scarce three lines of silver in her soft brown hair.
William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837)
These are both soft and gentle to do but improve your core.
The Sun (2015)
Use a low heat and soft brushes when styling hair.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are the soft furnishings of the island.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Wiltshire is not a soft target when it comes to poaching.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My strongest memory of the animals of the place is a soft one.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Soon we will need some soft speaking.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We must be soft in the head.
The Sun (2009)
It has got to be on the soft side.
The Sun (2010)
This is his trip and he likes soft ground.
The Sun (2009)
They are always looking for something softer and feminine to recall their femininity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They knew ladybirds were rather crunchy but soft inside, like tiny prawns.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Heat oil in a large frying pan or wok over a medium to high heat and fry the aubergine until soft and brown.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The standard car comes with a relatively soft chassis, which is fine if you want a shopping trolley.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
soft
British English: soft /sɒft/ ADJECTIVE
to touch Something that is soft is nice to touch, and not rough or hard.
She wiped the baby's face with a soft cloth.
American English: soft
Arabic: نَاعِم
Brazilian Portuguese: macio
Chinese: 软的
Croatian: mekan
Czech: měkký
Danish: blød
Dutch: zacht
European Spanish: blando
Finnish: pehmeä
French: doux texture
German: weich
Greek: μαλακός
Italian: morbido
Japanese: 柔らかい
Korean: 부드러운
Norwegian: myk
Polish: miękki
European Portuguese: macio
Romanian: moale
Russian: мягкий
Latin American Spanish: blando
Swedish: mjuk
Thai: อ่อนนุ่ม
Turkish: yumuşak
Ukrainian: м'який
Vietnamese: mềm
British English: soft /sɒft/ ADJECTIVE
gentle A soft sound or light is very gentle.
There was a soft tapping on my door.
American English: soft
Arabic: هادِئ
Brazilian Portuguese: suave
Chinese: 柔和的
Croatian: nježan
Czech: tichýzvuk
Danish: dæmpet
Dutch: zacht
European Spanish: suave
Finnish: varovainen
French: douxson
German: sanft
Greek: απαλός
Italian: morbido
Japanese: 静かな
Korean: 부드러운
Norwegian: myk
Polish: łagodny
European Portuguese: suave
Romanian: delicat
Russian: мягкий
Latin American Spanish: suave
Swedish: svag
Thai: แผ่วเบา
Turkish: yumuşak
Ukrainian: м'який
Vietnamese: mềm mịn
All related terms of 'soft'
soft on
gentle , sympathetic , or lenient towards
soft clam
any of several marine clams of the genus Mya , esp M. arenaria, an edible species of coastal regions of the US and Europe, having a thin brittle shell
soft coal
→ bituminous coal
soft copy
information that can be viewed on a computer screen rather than that which is printed on paper
soft-core
Soft-core pornography shows or describes sex , but in an indirect way. Compare → hard-core .
soft drug
an illegal drug, such as cannabis , that some people take for pleasure , that is not considered very harmful or likely to cause addiction
soft hail
See snow pellets
soft hat
a hat made from soft rather than stiff and structured materials
soft iron
iron that has a low carbon content and is easily magnetized and demagnetized with a small hysteresis loss
soft lens
a flexible hydrogel lens worn on the surface of the eye to correct defects of vision
soft line
a moderate flexible attitude or policy
soft loan
A soft loan is a loan with a very low interest rate . Soft loans are usually made to developing countries or to businesses in developing countries.
soft porn
Soft porn is pornography that shows or describes sex , but not very violent or unpleasant sex, or not in a very detailed way .
soft rock
a comparatively unaggressive , melodic style of rock-'n'- roll in which the arrangement and lyrics are emphasized more than the beat
soft roe
the ovary of a female fish filled with mature eggs
soft rot
any of various bacterial or fungal plant diseases characterized by watery disintegration of fruits, roots , etc
soft sell
A soft sell is a method of selling or advertising that involves persuading people in a gentle way rather than putting a lot of pressure on people to buy things.
soft-shoe
relating to a type of tap dancing performed wearing soft-soled shoes
soft sign
a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet , also known as the front yer , that indicates softening of the preceding consonant
soft soap
If you soft-soap someone, you flatter them or tell them what you think they want to hear in order to try and persuade them to do something.
soft spot
a sentimental fondness (esp in the phrase have a soft spot for )
soft tick
any of various small parasitic arachnids of the family Argasidae , typically living on the skin of warm-blooded animals and feeding on the blood and tissues of their hosts : order Acarina ( mites and ticks )
soft top
a convertible car with a roof made of fabric rather than metal
soft toy
Soft toys are toys that are made of cloth filled with a soft material and which look like animals.
soft-boiled
A soft-boiled egg is one that has been boiled for only a few minutes , so that the yellow part is still liquid .
soft border
a border between countries where people and goods are allowed to pass through with few checks
soft-bound
(of a book) having a thin cardboard , paper , or plastic cover
soft centre
a chocolate that has a soft filling
soft cheese
a type of cheese that is made in a relatively short time and has a soft, creamy or almost runny texture
soft-cover
a book or edition with covers made of flexible card , sold relatively cheaply
soft drink
A soft drink is a cold, non-alcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice , or a fizzy drink.
soft drinks
A soft drink is a cold , nonalcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice , or a carbonated drink.
soft-finned
(of certain teleost fishes ) having fins that are supported by flexible cartilaginous rays
soft focus
If something in a photograph or film is in soft focus , it has been made slightly unclear to give it a more romantic effect.
soft-footed
having or making light, quiet footsteps
soft fruit
Soft fruits are small fruits with soft skins , such as strawberries and currants.
soft goods
Soft goods are the same as → soft furnishings .
soft-headed
lacking intelligence or sense
soft hyphen
a hyphen , used in word processing to divide a word, which prints only when it appears at the end of a line
soft launch
the launch of a website in stages , with regular updating
soft money
(in the US) money that can be spent by a political party on grass-roots organization, recruitment, advertising , etc; it must be deposited in a party's non-federal (state-level) bank accounts, and must not be used in connection with presidential or congressional elections
soft option
If you take the soft option , you do the thing that is easiest or least likely to cause trouble in a particular situation .
soft palate
the posterior fleshy portion of the roof of the mouth. It forms a movable muscular flap that seals off the nasopharynx during swallowing and speech
soft paste
artificial porcelain made from clay, bone ash , etc
soft pedal
If you soft-pedal something, you deliberately reduce the amount of activity or pressure that you have been using to get something done or seen .
soft pencil
a type of pencil that contains a thicker , oilier and darker form of graphite
soft power
the ability to achieve one's goals without force, esp by diplomacy , persuasion , etc
soft sawder
flattery ; compliments
soft serve
→ frozen custard
soft-shell
having a soft shell
Chinese translation of 'soft'
soft
(sɔft)
adj
[towel]松(鬆)软(軟)的 (sōngruǎn de)
[skin]柔软(軟)的 (róuruǎn de)
[bed, paste]柔软(軟)的 (róuruǎn de)
[voice, music]轻(輕)柔的 (qīngróu de)
[light, colour]柔和的 (róuhé de)
(= lenient) 温(溫)和的 (wēnhé de)
to have a soft spot for sb对(對)某人有好感 (duì mǒurén yǒu hǎogǎn)
to be soft on sb对(對)某人宽(寬)厚 (duì mǒurén kuānhòu)
All related terms of 'soft'
soft drink
软(軟)性饮(飲)料 ruǎnxìng yǐnliào [ 瓶 píng ]
soft drugs
软(軟)毒品 ruǎn dúpǐn
it feels soft
摸上去软(軟)软(軟)的 mō shàngqù ruǎnruǎn de
hard/soft drugs
硬/软(軟)毒品 yìng/ruǎn dúpǐn
to be soft on sb
对(對)某人宽(寬)厚 duì mǒurén kuānhòu
in a loud/soft voice
大声(聲)地/柔声(聲)地 dàshēng de/róushēng de
to have a soft/hard heart
心肠(腸)软(軟)/硬 xīncháng ruǎn/yìng
to have a soft spot for sb
对(對)某人有好感 duì mǒurén yǒu hǎogǎn
1 (adjective)
Definition
in a soft manner
Regular use of a body lotion will keep the skin soft and supple.
Synonyms
velvety
the velvety fur on the cat's ears
smooth
The flagstones were worn smooth by centuries of use.
silky
I stroked her silky hair.
furry
thick furry tails
feathery
The foliage was soft and feathery.
downy
downy head and beautiful skin
fleecy
fleecy walking jackets
like a baby's bottom (informal)
Opposites
rough
,
grating
,
coarse
,
abrasive
,
hard
2 (adjective)
Definition
not hard
She lay down on the soft, comfortable bed.
Synonyms
yielding
the soft yielding cushions
flexible
Their boss was flexible and lenient.
pliable
The president was pliable and easily influenced.
cushioned
elastic
an elastic interpretation of the rules
malleable
spongy
The earth was spongy from rain.
springy
Knead the dough until smooth and springy.
cushiony
Opposites
hard
,
firm
,
rigid
,
tough
,
solid
,
stiff
,
inflexible
,
unyielding
3 (adjective)
The horse didn't handle the soft ground very well.
Synonyms
soggy
swampy
the swampy lowlands of southern Tuscany
marshy
the broad, marshy plain of the river
boggy
a green patch at the far end of a boggy field
squelchy
quaggy
4 (adjective)
a simple bread made with a soft dough
Synonyms
squashy
deep, squashy sofas
sloppy
mushy
When the fruit is mushy and cooked, remove from the heat.
spongy
squidgy (British, informal)
squishy
gelatinous
squelchy
pulpy
The chutney should have a thick, pulpy consistency.
doughy
gloopy (informal)
semi-liquid
5 (adjective)
Definition
easy to dent, shape, or cut
Aluminium is a soft metal.
Synonyms
pliable
The baskets are made with young, pliable spruce roots.
flexible
brushes with long, flexible bristles
supple
The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years.
malleable
Silver is the most malleable of all metals.
plastic
The mud is as soft and plastic as butter.
elastic
Work the dough until it is slightly elastic.
tensile
ductile
bendable
mouldable
impressible
6 (adjective)
Definition
(of music or sounds) quiet and pleasing
When he woke again he could hear soft music.She spoke in a soft whisper.
Synonyms
quiet
A quiet murmur passed through the classroom.
low
Her voice was so low he had to strain to catch it.
gentle
The wind had dropped to a gentle breeze.
sweet
the sweet sounds of Mozart
whispered
soothing
murmured
muted
He likes sober muted colours.
subdued
The conversation around them was resumed, but in subdued tones.
mellow
the mellow background music
understated
melodious
She spoke in a quiet melodious voice.
mellifluous
wonderful mellifluous voices
dulcet
her beautiful, dulcet voice
soft-toned
Opposites
loud
,
harsh
,
noisy
,
strident
7 (adjective)
Definition
kind or lenient, often to excess
He says the measure is soft and weak on criminals.
Synonyms
lenient
The Professor takes a slightly more lenient view.
easy-going
They have a very easy-going attitude to life.
lax
One of the problems is lax security for airport personnel.
liberal
She is known to have liberal views on abortion and contraception.
weak
a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant
indulgent
His indulgent mother was willing to let him do what he wanted.
permissive
Her parents are permissive and set few clear boundaries.
spineless
bureaucrats and spineless politicians
boneless
overindulgent
Opposites
strict
,
harsh
,
stern
,
austere
,
no-nonsense
8 (adjective)
Definition
loving and tender
a very soft and sensitive heart
Synonyms
kind
He was a very kind man, full of common sense.
tender
tender, loving care
sentimental
compassionate
My father was a deeply compassionate man.
sensitive
He was always so sensitive and caring.
gentle
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life
pitying
sympathetic
It may be that he sees you only as a sympathetic friend.
tenderhearted
touchy-feely (informal)
9 (adjective)
Definition
requiring little effort
(informal)
a soft option
Synonyms
easy
This is not an easy task.
comfortable
A home should be comfortable and friendly.
undemanding
cushy (informal)
He's had a very cushy life so far.
easy-peasy (slang)
10 (adjective)
Definition
(of light or colour) not excessively bright or harsh
The room was tempered by the soft colours.
Synonyms
pale
a pale blue dress
light
Her house is light and airy, crisp and clean.
subdued
The lighting was subdued.
pastel
pretty pastel shades
pleasing
bland
mellow
the mellow colours of autumn
Opposites
bright
,
gaudy
,
garish
,
harsh
,
glaring
11 (adjective)
Definition
(of light or colour) not excessively bright or harsh
His skin looked golden in the soft light.
Synonyms
dim (informal)
The new student wasn't as dim as we first thought.
faint
He became aware of the soft, faint sounds of water dripping.
dimmed
Opposites
bright
,
harsh
,
glaring
12 (adjective)
Definition
(of a breeze or climate) temperate, mild, or pleasant
a soft breeze
Synonyms
mild
The area is famous for its mild winters.
delicate
The colours are delicate and tasteful.
caressing
temperate
The valley keeps a temperate climate throughout the year.
balmy
a balmy summer's evening
13 (adjective)
Definition
not strong or able to endure hardship
Synonyms
out of condition
weak
Her voice was so weak we could hardly hear her.
limp
The residue can leave the hair limp and dull looking.
pampered
flabby
bulging thighs and flabby stomach
flaccid
Her wrist was limp and flaccid.
podgy
out of training
namby-pamby
I despise his wimpy, namby-pamby attitude.
overindulged
Additional synonyms
in the sense of balmy
Definition
(of weather) mild and pleasant
a balmy summer's evening
Synonyms
mild,
warm,
calm,
moderate,
pleasant,
clement,
tranquil,
temperate,
summery
in the sense of boggy
a green patch at the far end of a boggy field
Synonyms
marshy,
muddy,
waterlogged,
spongy,
swampy,
soft,
yielding,
fenny,
oozy,
miry,
quaggy
in the sense of comfortable
Definition
giving comfort
A home should be comfortable and friendly.
Synonyms
pleasant,
homely,
easy,
relaxing,
delightful,
enjoyable,
cosy,
agreeable,
restful
Synonyms of 'soft'
soft
Explore 'soft' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of compassionate
Definition
showing or having compassion
My father was a deeply compassionate man.
Synonyms
sympathetic,
kindly,
understanding,
tender,
pitying,
humanitarian,
charitable,
humane,
indulgent,
benevolent,
lenient,
merciful,
kind-hearted,
tender-hearted
in the sense of cushy
Definition
easy
He's had a very cushy life so far.
Synonyms
easy,
soft (informal),
comfortable,
undemanding,
jammy (British, slang)
in the sense of delicate
Definition
(of colour, smell, or taste) pleasantly subtle
The colours are delicate and tasteful.
Synonyms
subtle,
fine,
nice,
soft,
delicious,
faint,
refined,
muted,
subdued,
pastel,
understated,
dainty
in the sense of downy
downy head and beautiful skin
Synonyms
soft,
smooth,
sleek,
silky,
velvety,
silken
in the sense of dulcet
Definition
(of a sound) soothing or pleasant
her beautiful, dulcet voice
Synonyms
sweet,
pleasing,
musical,
charming,
pleasant,
honeyed,
delightful,
soothing,
agreeable,
harmonious,
melodious,
mellifluous,
euphonious,
mellifluent
in the sense of easy-going
Definition
relaxed in manner or attitude
They have a very easy-going attitude to life.
Synonyms
relaxed,
easy,
liberal,
calm,
flexible,
mild,
casual,
tolerant,
laid-back (informal),
indulgent,
serene,
lenient,
carefree,
placid,
unconcerned,
amenable,
permissive,
happy-go-lucky,
unhurried,
nonchalant,
insouciant,
even-tempered,
easy-peasy (slang),
chilled (informal)
in the sense of elastic
Definition
capable of being adapted to meet the demands of a particular situation
an elastic interpretation of the rules
Synonyms
adaptable,
yielding,
variable,
flexible,
accommodating,
tolerant,
adjustable,
supple,
complaisant
in the sense of elastic
Definition
capable of returning to its original shape after stretching, compression, or other distortion
Work the dough until it is slightly elastic.
Synonyms
flexible,
yielding,
supple,
rubbery,
pliable,
plastic,
springy,
pliant,
tensile,
stretchy,
ductile,
stretchable
in the sense of faint
Definition
lacking clarity, brightness, or volume
He became aware of the soft, faint sounds of water dripping.
Synonyms
dim,
low,
light,
soft,
thin,
faded,
whispered,
distant,
dull,
delicate,
vague,
unclear,
muted,
subdued,
faltering,
hushed,
bleached,
feeble,
indefinite,
muffled,
hazy,
ill-defined,
indistinct
in the sense of feathery
The foliage was soft and feathery.
Synonyms
downy,
soft,
feathered,
fluffy,
plumed,
wispy,
plumy,
plumate or plumose,
light
Additional synonyms
in the sense of flabby
Definition
loose or limp
bulging thighs and flabby stomach
Synonyms
limp,
hanging,
loose,
slack,
unfit,
sagging,
sloppy,
baggy,
floppy,
lax,
drooping,
flaccid,
pendulous (literary),
toneless,
yielding
in the sense of flaccid
Definition
soft and limp
Her wrist was limp and flaccid.
Synonyms
limp,
soft,
weak,
loose,
slack,
lax,
drooping,
flabby,
nerveless
in the sense of fleecy
Definition
of or resembling fleece
fleecy walking jackets
Synonyms
woolly,
soft,
fluffy,
shaggy,
downy
in the sense of flexible
Their boss was flexible and lenient.
Synonyms
compliant,
accommodating,
manageable,
amenable,
docile,
tractable,
biddable,
complaisant,
responsive,
gentle
in the sense of flexible
Definition
able to be bent easily without breaking
brushes with long, flexible bristles
Synonyms
pliable,
plastic,
yielding,
elastic,
supple,
lithe,
limber,
springy,
willowy,
pliant,
tensile,
stretchy,
whippy,
lissom(e),
ductile,
bendable,
mouldable
in the sense of furry
Definition
like or covered with fur or something furlike
thick furry tails
Synonyms
hairy,
woolly,
shaggy,
downy,
fleecy
in the sense of gentle
Definition
temperate or moderate
The wind had dropped to a gentle breeze.
Synonyms
moderate,
low,
light,
easy,
soft,
calm,
slight,
mild,
soothing,
clement,
temperate,
balmy
in the sense of gentle
Definition
soft
a quiet and gentle man who liked sports and enjoyed life
Synonyms
kind,
loving,
kindly,
peaceful,
soft,
quiet,
pacific,
tender,
mild,
benign,
humane,
compassionate,
amiable,
meek,
lenient,
placid,
merciful,
kind-hearted,
sweet-tempered,
tender-hearted,
dove-like
in the sense of indulgent
Definition
kind or lenient, often to excess
His indulgent mother was willing to let him do what he wanted.
Synonyms
lenient,
liberal,
kind,
kindly,
understanding,
gentle,
tender,
mild,
fond,
favourable,
tolerant,
gratifying,
easy-going,
compliant,
permissive,
forbearing
in the sense of lax
Definition
lacking firmness
One of the problems is lax security for airport personnel.
Synonyms
slack,
casual,
careless,
sloppy (informal),
easy-going,
negligent,
lenient,
slapdash,
neglectful,
slipshod,
remiss (formal),
easy-peasy (slang),
overindulgent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of liberal
Definition
having social and political views that favour progress and reform
She is known to have liberal views on abortion and contraception.
Synonyms
tolerant,
enlightened,
open-minded,
permissive,
advanced,
catholic,
humanitarian,
right-on (informal),
indulgent,
easy-going,
unbiased,
high-minded,
broad-minded,
unprejudiced,
unbigoted,
politically correct or PC
in the sense of light
Definition
full of light
Her house is light and airy, crisp and clean.
Synonyms
bright,
brilliant,
shining,
glowing,
sunny,
illuminated,
luminous,
well-lighted,
well-lit,
lustrous,
aglow,
well-illuminated
in the sense of limp
Definition
lacking firmness or stiffness
The residue can leave the hair limp and dull looking.
Synonyms
floppy,
soft,
relaxed,
loose,
flexible,
slack,
lax,
drooping,
flabby,
limber,
pliable,
flaccid
in the sense of low
Definition
with a hushed tone
Her voice was so low he had to strain to catch it.
Synonyms
quiet,
soft,
gentle,
whispered,
muted,
subdued,
hushed,
muffled
in the sense of malleable
Definition
(esp. of metal) capable of being hammered or pressed into shape without breaking
Silver is the most malleable of all metals.
Synonyms
workable,
soft,
plastic,
tensile,
ductile
in the sense of marshy
the broad, marshy plain of the river
Synonyms
swampy,
wet,
waterlogged,
spongy,
boggy,
fenny,
miry,
paludal,
quaggy
in the sense of mellifluous
Definition
(of sound) smooth and sweet
wonderful mellifluous voices
Synonyms
sweet,
soft,
smooth,
honeyed,
soothing,
mellow,
silvery,
dulcet,
sweet-sounding,
euphonious
in the sense of mellow
Definition
(esp. of colours, light, or sounds) soft or rich
the mellow background music
Synonyms
tuneful,
full,
rich,
soft,
melodious,
mellifluous,
dulcet,
well-tuned,
euphonic,
MLO
in the sense of mellow
Definition
(esp. of colours, light, or sounds) soft or rich
the mellow colours of autumn
Synonyms
soft,
deep,
rich,
warm,
MLO
in the sense of melodious
Definition
tuneful and melodic
She spoke in a quiet melodious voice.
Synonyms
musical,
harmonious,
melodic,
silvery,
tuneful,
concordant,
dulcet,
sweet-sounding,
euphonious,
sweet-toned,
euphonic
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mushy
Definition
soft and pulpy
When the fruit is mushy and cooked, remove from the heat.
Synonyms
soft,
squidgy (informal),
slushy,
squashy,
squelchy,
pulpy,
doughy,
pappy,
semi-liquid,
paste-like,
semi-solid
in the sense of muted
Definition
(of an emotion or action) subdued or restrained
He likes sober muted colours.
Synonyms
subdued,
subtle,
faded,
delicate,
restrained,
discreet,
low-key,
pastel,
understated,
toned down
in the sense of namby-pamby
Definition
excessively sentimental or prim
I despise his wimpy, namby-pamby attitude.
Synonyms
feeble,
weak,
wet (informal),
sentimental,
ineffectual,
prim,
weedy (informal),
colourless,
anaemic,
insipid,
simpering,
spineless,
effete,
boneless,
prissy (informal),
wishy-washy (informal),
vapid,
mawkish,
wussy (slang),
niminy-piminy,
wimpish or wimpy (informal)
in the sense of pastel
Definition
(of a colour) pale and delicate
pretty pastel shades
Synonyms
pale,
light,
soft,
delicate,
muted,
soft-hued
in the sense of permissive
Definition
tolerant or lenient, esp. in sexual matters
Her parents are permissive and set few clear boundaries.
Synonyms
tolerant,
liberal,
open-minded,
indulgent,
easy-going,
free,
lax,
lenient,
forbearing,
acquiescent,
latitudinarian,
easy-oasy (slang)
in the sense of plastic
Definition
capable of being moulded or formed
The mud is as soft and plastic as butter.
Synonyms
pliant,
soft,
flexible,
supple,
pliable,
tensile,
ductile,
mouldable,
fictile
in the sense of pulpy
The chutney should have a thick, pulpy consistency.
Synonyms
soft,
succulent,
fleshy,
mushy,
squashy,
pappy
in the sense of quaggy
Synonyms
boggy,
soft,
yielding,
muddy,
soggy,
mushy,
swampy,
marshy,
squelchy,
fenny,
miry,
paludal
in the sense of sensitive
Definition
responsive to feelings and moods
He was always so sensitive and caring.
Synonyms
thoughtful,
kind,
understanding,
feeling,
kindly,
concerned,
patient,
responsive,
intuitive,
receptive,
attentive,
perceptive,
considerate,
tactful,
unselfish
in the sense of silky
Definition
soft, smooth, and shiny
I stroked her silky hair.
Synonyms
smooth,
soft,
sleek,
velvety,
silken,
lustrous,
satiny
Additional synonyms
in the sense of smooth
Definition
having an even surface with no roughness, bumps, or holes
The flagstones were worn smooth by centuries of use.
Synonyms
sleek,
polished,
shiny,
glossy,
silky,
velvety,
glassy,
mirror-like
in the sense of spineless
Definition
behaving in a cowardly way
bureaucrats and spineless politicians
Synonyms
weak,
soft,
cowardly,
ineffective,
feeble,
yellow (informal),
inadequate,
pathetic,
submissive,
squeamish,
vacillating,
boneless,
gutless (informal),
weak-willed,
weak-kneed (informal),
faint-hearted,
irresolute,
spiritless,
chickenshit (US, slang),
lily-livered,
without a will of your own
in the sense of spongy
The earth was spongy from rain.
Synonyms
porous,
light,
absorbent,
springy,
cushioned,
elastic,
cushiony
in the sense of springy
Definition
(of an object) having the quality of returning to its original shape after being pressed or pulled
Knead the dough until smooth and springy.
Synonyms
flexible,
elastic,
resilient,
bouncy,
rubbery,
spongy
in the sense of subdued
The conversation around them was resumed, but in subdued tones.
Synonyms
hushed,
soft,
quiet,
whispered,
murmured,
muted,
muffled,
inaudible,
indistinct
in the sense of subdued
The lighting was subdued.
Synonyms
dim (informal),
soft,
subtle,
muted,
shaded,
low-key,
understated,
toned down,
unobtrusive
in the sense of supple
Definition
(of a material or object) soft and bending easily without breaking
The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years.
Synonyms
pliant,
flexible,
pliable,
plastic,
bending,
elastic,
rubbery,
bendable,
stretchable
in the sense of swampy
the swampy lowlands of southern Tuscany
Synonyms
boggy,
waterlogged,
marshy,
wet,
fenny,
miry,
quaggy,
marish (obsolete)
in the sense of sweet
Definition
(of a sound) pleasant and tuneful
the sweet sounds of Mozart
Synonyms
melodious,
musical,
harmonious,
soft,
mellow,
silvery,
tuneful,
dulcet,
sweet-sounding,
euphonious,
silver-toned,
euphonic
in the sense of sympathetic
Definition
feeling or showing kindness and understanding
It may be that he sees you only as a sympathetic friend.
Synonyms
caring,
kind,
understanding,
concerned,
feeling,
interested,
kindly,
warm,
tender,
pitying,
supportive,
responsive,
affectionate,
compassionate,
commiserating,
warm-hearted,
condoling
Additional synonyms
in the sense of temperate
Definition
of a climate which is never extremely hot or extremely cold
The valley keeps a temperate climate throughout the year.
Synonyms
mild,
moderate,
balmy,
fair,
cool,
soft,
calm,
gentle,
pleasant,
clement,
agreeable
in the sense of tender
Definition
gentle and kind
tender, loving care
Synonyms
gentle,
loving,
kind,
caring,
warm,
sympathetic,
fond,
sentimental,
humane,
affectionate,
compassionate,
benevolent,
considerate,
merciful,
amorous,
warm-hearted,
tenderhearted,
softhearted,
touchy-feely (informal)
in the sense of weak
Definition
lacking in moral strength
a clash between a weak minister and a domineering civil servant