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 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)

c : marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key entry 1

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 on has 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 Phrases Containing soft Learn More About soft

Other Words from soft

Adjective

softish \ ˈsȯf-tish

\ adjective

softly \ ˈsȯf(t)-lē

\ adverb

softness \ ˈsȯf(t)-nəs

\ noun

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 For those who prefer their complexions to skew baby-soft, Dr. Garshick recommends the Ferver Fermented Enzyme Acid Mask. — Noemie Gokhool, Allure, 19 May 2022 This step guarantees great flavor, a buttery-soft texture and allows any excess water to evaporate, which ensures that the creamy dressings will cling to the spuds. — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 15 May 2022 The dress itself is super comfortable with its lightweight, breathable fabric that customers say is soft to the touch. — Carly Kulzer, PEOPLE.com, 10 May 2022 Thanks to age-old wisdom, this silky-soft cleanser will have your skin looking dewier and brighter than ever before. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2022 It's wrapped in a plush micro-suede cover that's soft-to-the-touch and gives a feeling of luxury to your standard camping pillow design. — Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2022 Brown faces a range of criticism for her decision, including for her soft-on-crime approach and her failure to inform Nikki Thrasher’s mother of Hedquist’s clemency. — Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 Even after washing, these towels remained bright, absorbent, and soft to the touch. — Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2022 Take this performance bag, which has the lean build of our favorite briefs combined with all-day-everyday specs including a moisture-wicking fabric and soft-but-grippy handles. — Christian Gollayan, Men's Health, 21 Apr. 2022 See More

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.