soft

1 of 3

adjective

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 dictators
soft on law and order
b
: tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging, kind
a soft answer turns away wrathProverbs 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 adjective
softly adverb
softness noun

soft

2 of 3

adverb

: in a soft or gentle manner : softly

soft

3 of 3

noun

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

Examples of soft in a Sentence

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
Adjective
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that The Breezy Styling Mist promotes fullness and a soft, textured finish, while also acting as a heat protectant. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024 Featuring soft lining and a foam footbed, the Tasman slippers come in colors like chestnut, black, gray, and more. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 His work helped form the then-emerging future bass subgenre, which, like the bass music that influenced it, is huge and often heavy but also simultaneously soft — like getting hit in the head with a two-by-four wrapped in velvet. Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 The filling contrasts the soft, white meringue atop the pie, encrusted in the baked sheen and ready to be enjoyed by patrons at Margie's Kitchen. The Arizona Republic, 12 Mar. 2024 The rooms are comfy throughout, with textured natural fiber floor coverings over smooth wood floors and soft oriental rugs. Christopher Cameron, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 Enjoy the last few hours in orbit and soft landings. William Harwood, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2024 Styled by Law Roach and wearing her hair in soft waves, the actress stunned in an antique rose silk gown with a single roped strap. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 The touchless dispensers are offered in three different colorways — navy, white and soft gray — and can be refilled with ease, eliminating single-use plastics. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of soft was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near soft

Cite this Entry

“Soft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

soft

1 of 2 adjective
1
a
: having a pleasing, comfortable, or soothing effect : gentle, mild
soft breezes
b
: not bright or glaring
soft lighting
c
: pleasing to the ear : quiet in pitch or volume
soft voices
d
: smooth or delicate in appearance or feel
a soft silk
2
: demanding little effort : easy
a soft job
3
: sounding as in ace and gem
used of c and g
4
: gently or gradually curved or rounded : not harsh or jagged
soft hills
5
a
: having a mild gentle disposition : docile
b
: showing sympathetic understanding
took a soft stand toward the rebels
6
: lacking in strength : feeble
soft from easy living
7
: mentally weak
8
a
: yielding to physical pressure
a soft mattress
soft metals such as lead
b
: not as hard as others of its kind
9
: free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
10
: occurring at such a speed and in such a way that a destructive crash is avoided
a soft landing on the moon
softly adverb
softness noun

soft

2 of 2 adverb
: in a soft manner

Medical Definition

soft

adjective
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

More from Merriam-Webster on soft

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