soft
1 of 3adjective
ˈsȯft 
1
a
: pleasing or agreeable to the senses : bringing ease, comfort, or quiet
the soft influences of home
b
: having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste
c(1)
: not bright or glaring : subdued
(2)
: having or producing little contrast or a relatively short range of tones
a soft photographic print
d
: quiet in pitch or volume
e
of the eyes : having a liquid or gentle appearance
f
: smooth or delicate in texture, grain, or fiber
soft cashmere
soft fur
g(1)
: balmy, mild, or clement in weather or temperature
(2)
: moving or falling with slight force or impact : not violent
soft breezes
2
: demanding little work or effort : easy
a soft job
3
a
: sounding as in ace and gem respectively —used of c and g or their sound
b
of a consonant : voiced
c
: constituting a vowel before which there is a \\y\\ sound or a \\y\\-like modification of a consonant or constituting a consonant in whose articulation there is a \\y\\-like modification or which is followed by a \\y\\ sound (as in Russian)
4
archaic : moving in a leisurely manner
5
: rising gradually
a soft slope
6
: having curved or rounded outline : not harsh or jagged
soft hills against the horizon
7
: marked by a gentleness, kindness, or tenderness: such as
a(1)
: not harsh or onerous in character
a policy of soft competition
(2)
: based on negotiation, conciliation, or flexibility rather than on force, threats, or intransigence
took a soft line during the crisis
(3)
: tending to take a soft line —usually used with on
soft on dictatorssoft on law and order
b
: tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging, kind
a soft answer turns away wrath 
Proverbs 15:1 (Revised Standard Version)
Proverbs 15:1 (Revised Standard Version) c
: marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key entry 1
8
a
: emotionally suggestible or responsive : impressionable
b
: unduly susceptible to influence : compliant
c
: lacking firmness or strength of character : feeble, unmanly
d
: amorously attracted or emotionally involved —used with on
has been soft on her for years
9
a
: lacking robust strength, stamina, or endurance especially because of living in ease or luxury
grown soft and indolent
b
: weak or deficient mentally
soft in the head
10
a
: yielding to physical pressure
b
: permitting someone or something to sink in —used of wet ground
c(1)
: of a consistency that may be shaped or molded
(2)
: capable of being spread
d
: easily magnetized and demagnetized
e
: lacking relatively or comparatively in hardness
soft iron
11
: deficient in or free from substances (such as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
12
: having relatively low energy
soft X-rays
13
of news : relatively less serious or significant
14
: occurring at such a speed and under such circumstances as to avoid destructive impact
soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon
15
: not protected against enemy attack
a soft aboveground launching site
soft targets
16
: biodegradable
a soft detergent
soft pesticides
17
of a drug : considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic
18
: easily polarized —used of acids and bases
19
a
of currency : not readily convertible
b
of a loan : not secured by collateral
20
a
: being low due to sluggish market conditions
soft prices
b
: sluggish, slow
a soft market
21
: not firmly committed
soft unreliable political support
22
: soft-core
soft porn
23
a
: being or based on interpretive or speculative data
soft evidence
b
: utilizing or based on soft data
soft science
24
: being or using renewable sources of energy (such as solar radiation, wind, or tides)
soft technologies
25
of money : contributed (as by a corporation) to a political party rather than directly to a particular candidate
softish
ˈsȯf-tish
adjective softly
ˈsȯf(t)-lē
adverb softness
ˈsȯf(t)-nəs
noun soft
2 of 3adverb
: in a soft or gentle manner : softly
soft
3 of 3noun
: a soft object, material, or part
the soft of the thumb
Synonyms
Adjective
- dull
- gentle
- low
- quiet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The ground was soft after the heavy rain. Iron and lead are soft metals. The room was painted in soft pink. the soft glow of the moon
Recent Examples on the Web Nicole Hemmer, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Cotton, who emerged as one of the staunchest critics of Rollins and her progressive policies, tried to block her confirmation and accused her of being soft on crime. Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022 During his speech in the Keystone State, a crucial battleground in the coming midterm elections, Mr. Biden looked to counter GOP attacks that his party is soft on crime. Catherine Lucey, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 The governor went on to slam the left for being soft on crime and embracing socialism. Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2022 Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. Alan Fram, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Aug. 2022 Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Republicans accused Democrats of being soft on border security and opening the door to higher energy and gas costs. CBS News, 7 Aug. 2022 Republicans forced their own votes designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. Alan Fram And Lisa Mascaro, Chron, 7 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
During the show, Maher questioned him not about the abuses that took place under his watch but about whether America had become too soft on crime. Nicole Hemmer, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Cotton, who emerged as one of the staunchest critics of Rollins and her progressive policies, tried to block her confirmation and accused her of being soft on crime. Shelley Murphy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2022 During his speech in the Keystone State, a crucial battleground in the coming midterm elections, Mr. Biden looked to counter GOP attacks that his party is soft on crime. Catherine Lucey, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 The governor went on to slam the left for being soft on crime and embracing socialism. Ronn Blitzer, Fox News, 24 Aug. 2022 Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. Alan Fram, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Aug. 2022 Most votes were forced by Republicans and many were designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Republicans accused Democrats of being soft on border security and opening the door to higher energy and gas costs. CBS News, 7 Aug. 2022 Republicans forced their own votes designed to make Democrats look soft on U.S.-Mexico border security and gasoline and energy costs, and like bullies for wanting to strengthen IRS tax law enforcement. Alan Fram And Lisa Mascaro, Chron, 7 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English sōfte, alteration of sēfte; akin to Old High German semfti soft
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing soft
Kids Definition
soft 1 of 2
adjective
ˈsȯft
softer; softest
1
: not hard, solid, or firm
a soft mattress
2
: smooth or pleasant to touch
a soft silk
3
: having a soothing or comfortable effect : not bright or glaring
soft lights
soft colors
4
: quiet in pitch or volume
soft voices
5
: not strong or forceful : gentle
soft breezes
a soft touch
6
: involving little work or effort : easy
a soft job
7
: sounding like the letter c in ace or the letter g in gem
8
: easily affected by emotions : sympathetic and kind
a soft heart
9
: lacking in strength or fitness
He had grown soft from good living.
10
: free from substances that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
11
: not containing alcohol
soft drinks
soft
2 of 2adverb
softer; softest
: softly
You hit the ball too soft.
Medical Definition
soft
adjective
ˈsȯft
1
: yielding to physical pressure
2
: deficient in or free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
3
: having relatively low energy
soft X-rays
4
: biodegradable
soft pesticides
5
of a drug : considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic
marijuana is usually regarded as a soft drug
6
: easily polarized —used of acids and bases
7
a
: being or based on interpretive or speculative data
soft evidence
b
: utilizing or based on soft data
soft science
softly
adverb
1
as in quietly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- quietly
- feebly
- noiselessly
- faintly
- silently
- low
- inaudibly
- soundlessly
- voicelessly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aloud
- audibly
- out
- distinctly
- clearly
- verbally
- vocally
- plainly
- perceptibly
- out loud
- discernibly
- distinguishably
2
as in lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
- lightly
- tenderly
- gently
- lovingly
- leniently
- cordially
- graciously
- benevolently
- considerately
- benignantly
- sympathetically
- mildly
- compassionately
- clemently
- understandingly
- tolerantly
- mercifully
- kindly
- humanely
- charitably
- softheartedly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- stiffly
- sternly
- harshly
- severely
- brutally
- hard
- roughly
- ill
- oppressively
- hardly
- mercilessly
- ruthlessly
- pitilessly
- heartlessly
- unmercifully
- unfeelingly
- callously
- insensitively
- obdurately
- unsparingly
- inhumanly
- uncharitably
- tyrannically
- inhumanely
- viciously
- savagely
- abusively
- brutishly
- cold-bloodedly
- hard-heartedly
- insensately