soft

adjective

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\ ˈsȯft

Definition of soft

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

3a : 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 onsoft 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)

c : marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key

8a : 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 onhas been soft on her for years

9a : 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

10a : 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

19a of currency : not readily convertible

b of a loan : not secured by collateral

20a : 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

23a : 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

soft

adverb

Definition of soft (Entry 2 of 3)

: in a soft or gentle manner : softly

soft

noun

Definition of soft (Entry 3 of 3)

: a soft object, material, or part the soft of the thumb

Other Words from soft Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about soft

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Examples of soft in a Sentence

Adjective The ground was soft after the heavy rain. Iron and lead are soft metals. The rabbit's fur is soft. The room was painted in soft pink. the soft glow of the moon

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Like many Cavs, the front office and coaching staff have been appalled at times at how the team has been so soft on defense. — Terry Pluto, cleveland, "Good or bad fit, Cleveland Cavaliers smart to find out about Andre Drummond," 8 Feb. 2020 The second is Halloumi, a feta-like salty brined Cypriot cheese that’s often grilled, but when roasted becomes golden brown and pillowy soft. — Deb Perelman, Bon Appétit, "How to Get Your Kids to Eat a Giant Tray of Vegetables," 8 Jan. 2020 That work was completed in three months, and on Oct. 1, the Saracen Casino Annex and Q-Store was officially unveiled to the public, following a soft opening on Sept. 27. — Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, "Quapaw Nation's Arkansas casino finish still set for June," 27 Dec. 2019 My cat, Beetlejuice, has somehow doubled in size, and, even though he was born a brown street cat, is now lily white and softer than cashmere. — Dana Schwartz, The New Yorker, "A List of Purchases That Changed My Life Exactly How I Imagined They Would," 26 Dec. 2019 There also are softer, but perhaps more far reaching, applications of information technology. — The Economist, "Can technology plan economies and destroy democracy?," 18 Dec. 2019 In fact, the Portland Food & Drink website reports that crowds have already found the bakery in its soft-opening phase. — Michael Russell, oregonlive, "Wildly popular Taiwanese bakery chain 85°C will hold grand opening Friday," 2 Dec. 2019 The second location of David Carrigan’s gastopub and craft cocktail bar opens today (Nov. 25) at 4 p.m. in Mountain Brook Village after a soft opening over the weekend. — Shauna Stuart | Sstuart@al.com, al, "The Mountain Brook location of Carrigan’s is ready. Here’s what’s new," 25 Nov. 2019 The soft opening will take place in late December followed by a grand opening in the first part of next year. — Austin Fuller, orlandosentinel.com, "Korean restaurant opening by Doctor Phillips," 20 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.