Illustration of softshell
soft·shell
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel 
: any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates
called also soft-shelled turtle
variants
or soft-shelled
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
Examples of softshell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025
The Flex1 materials are a blend of softshell materials that are stretchy, durable, and breathable.
—Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
In 2020, two research teams revealed evidence that some of the earliest dinosaur eggs – specifically those associated with Protoceratops in Mongolia and Mussaurus in Argentina – were soft-shelled rather than hard and calcified.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
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Noun
The TourTech Bib blends a breathable softshell from mid-thigh up, with waterproof hardshell fabric on the lower legs for enhanced weatherproofing and durability.
—Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 19 Nov. 2025
The Flex1 materials are a blend of softshell materials that are stretchy, durable, and breathable.
—Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2025
Adjective
But as a quick recap, this style tent combines the benefits of a hardshell case – quicker packing, tougher on/off-road protection and faster setup – with the expandable size that was once solely the domain of soft-shell RTT models.
—New Atlas, 13 Dec. 2025
In 2020, two research teams revealed evidence that some of the earliest dinosaur eggs – specifically those associated with Protoceratops in Mongolia and Mussaurus in Argentina – were soft-shelled rather than hard and calcified.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
Cite this Entry
“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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