as in hard-core
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of soft-core
For individuals, soft-core KPIs might include the employee’s personal brand reputation, visibility on professional platforms or involvement in external community projects.
—
Filomena Di Luise, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
The film felt like a dispatch from a cinematic world that no longer existed — streamed quietly into a culture now fluent in soft-core stylization but less interested in its emotional stakes.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
This is the character most relatable to the man who founded a media company whose sole purpose was to manipulate women into taking their tops off and engage in soft-core pornography on camera and cut them out of the earnings.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
Ranking Coppola’s 23 features — his 1962 soft-core Tonight for Sure is not included, nor is his misbegotten New York Stories short feature or the Disney attraction Captain EO — was a difficult proposition.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
The agencies that dole out state money to public charger companies — the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission — have taken a soft-core approach to holding the companies responsible.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
Their intercourse isn’t soft-core like Bound but features Marian’s shy, sly, self-consciousness.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 July 2024
Plastered around New York City, the soft-core promo had pedestrians doing double takes.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2023
Filomena Di Luise, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
The film felt like a dispatch from a cinematic world that no longer existed — streamed quietly into a culture now fluent in soft-core stylization but less interested in its emotional stakes.
—arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025
This is the character most relatable to the man who founded a media company whose sole purpose was to manipulate women into taking their tops off and engage in soft-core pornography on camera and cut them out of the earnings.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024
Ranking Coppola’s 23 features — his 1962 soft-core Tonight for Sure is not included, nor is his misbegotten New York Stories short feature or the Disney attraction Captain EO — was a difficult proposition.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
The agencies that dole out state money to public charger companies — the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission — have taken a soft-core approach to holding the companies responsible.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2024
Their intercourse isn’t soft-core like Bound but features Marian’s shy, sly, self-consciousness.
—Armond White, National Review, 31 July 2024
Plastered around New York City, the soft-core promo had pedestrians doing double takes.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-core
Adjective
-
While some individuals have produced hardcore pornographic clips starring Disney and comic book characters, others on the platform have succeeded in prompting Grok Imagine to conjure lewd imagery of Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, and Sydney Sweeney.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
-
It's designed to match players of similar skills into game lobbies and create a gameplay experience that doesn't pit new or casual players against hard-core players or pros who will likely annihilate them.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The waste feels more flagrant with every pornographic shot of a Chanel bag, vintage car or over-the-top ensemble.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Opponents of the books describe them as pornographic.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Though she was lambasted at the time, the erotic drama has enjoyed a critical reappraisal in recent years, with fans celebrating Berkley's kinetic turn.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Further titles on its slate include erotic thriller Blurred, starring Alex Pettyfer and Guy Pearce; YA adventure The Queen’s Jewels, starring Carson Rowland, Katherine McNamara and Michael Evans Behling; and Bulgarian horror Samodiva, featuring Jack Parr, Sophie Craig and Richard Brake.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Corrigan has also appeared in independent non-adult films such as Chillerama and appeared in Gus Van Sant’s Harvey Milk biopic Milk.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The junior car had gotten seriously adult.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
What does the sexiest man alive—according to People magazine, at least—wear on his wrist?—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
8 Nov. 2025
-
On apps like Quinn and Dipsea (among a growing number of others), people can listen to spicy, sexy, smutty stories all day long.—
Jodi McAlister,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Women who choose to pursue IVF typically have more than one egg fertilized to ensure at least one develops into a mature embryo.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Unfortunately, in a lot of mature communities, there’s very strong anti-development sentiment.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The content of its productions has included legitimate theater, vaudeville, burlesque, striptease, movies (many X-rated), classical music and jazz as well as occasional forays into boxing, bodybuilding and politics.—
Dan Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
21 Sep. 2025
-
For the first seven years of the rating system (1969-1975), nearly half of the top films (33 of 70) were R- or X-rated.—
Tom Brueggemann,
IndieWire,
26 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Soft-core.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-core. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share