as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a softhearted person who never hesitates to help anyone in trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune
the kind of softheartedness that makes him an easy target for anyone with a tale of woe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
the widow's naive softheartedness makes it hard for her to say "no" to charitable appeals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of softhearted
Jeanie Kasindorf, Vulture, 10 July 2024
Becker shows that proponents of Brexit talked surprisingly little about the past and tried, in fact, to hang nostalgia’s toxic millstone around the necks of Remainers, accusing them of a softhearted attachment to the now sclerotic dream of European unity.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Your softhearted grandfather might have given you one of their figurines for Christmas one year, or your sentimental mother-in-law might have decorated her guest bathroom with their wall hangings.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023
The struggle to save the farm deepens the partnership between Craig, softhearted but realistic, and Jillian, the persistent Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Ford received a standing ovation last spring at the Cannes Film Festival, and his gruff but softhearted demeanor works.
—Dan Lybarger, Arkansas Online, 29 June 2023
How to adopt: Interested adopters can meet softhearted Summer at the Arizona Humane Society’s South Mountain location.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 28 Apr. 2023
Mashed potatoes are going on the menu, and Tina, the sharp-tongued, softhearted vegetable cook, has just pulled a sheet pan of whole potatoes from the oven.
—New York Times, 11 July 2022
Chuntao doesn’t want to, but her softhearted husband insists.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2021
Adjective
Katzenberg bought a script called 3,000, a dark story about a softhearted prostitute and a heartless businessman.
—Jeanie Kasindorf, Vulture, 10 July 2024
Becker shows that proponents of Brexit talked surprisingly little about the past and tried, in fact, to hang nostalgia’s toxic millstone around the necks of Remainers, accusing them of a softhearted attachment to the now sclerotic dream of European unity.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023
Your softhearted grandfather might have given you one of their figurines for Christmas one year, or your sentimental mother-in-law might have decorated her guest bathroom with their wall hangings.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023
The struggle to save the farm deepens the partnership between Craig, softhearted but realistic, and Jillian, the persistent Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
Ford received a standing ovation last spring at the Cannes Film Festival, and his gruff but softhearted demeanor works.
—Dan Lybarger, Arkansas Online, 29 June 2023
How to adopt: Interested adopters can meet softhearted Summer at the Arizona Humane Society’s South Mountain location.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 28 Apr. 2023
Mashed potatoes are going on the menu, and Tina, the sharp-tongued, softhearted vegetable cook, has just pulled a sheet pan of whole potatoes from the oven.
—New York Times, 11 July 2022
Chuntao doesn’t want to, but her softhearted husband insists.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softhearted
Adjective
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Officials expect about 100 prisoners each year will qualify for compassionate release, Buis said.—
Don Thompson,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
When delivering bad news, be succinct and compassionate.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At the time of publication, the video of her efforts has been watched over 228,000 times, with users flocking to offer words of kindness in the comments section.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Becky’s independence, kindness, determination and beauty will live on through her forever.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
What truly holds marriages together is truth delivered with tenderness.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Charcuterie and cheese, potatoes and onions, meat and offal: These are the ingredients that animate Harris’s chalkboard menu, all old friends, treated with a grandmotherly mix of tenderness and brawn.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But at its core, Wrexham’s rapid rise owes mostly to club stumbling into a relationship with a benevolent benefactor with far more resources than most of its now-former fourth- and fifth-division peers.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Shares of Advanced Micro Devices and Micron Technology fell 7% and 1%, respectively, in sympathy.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2025
-
And some had sympathy for what seemed like his intuitive habit, urging the creator and others in the comments to avoid judgement based on his past.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Harrell describes her daughter as a kind, sweet child who always sought to do what was right.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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What Lee liked best about playing Go-tak, a seemingly tough guy with a kind heart, was bonding with his fellow actors.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Yellows 1, 2, 3 and 4: Were all banned in 1959 after they were potentially linked to lesions and heart damage.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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For a lot of kids, playing FNF at its peak—before development stalled, before mods went awry—seems to hold a special place in their hearts.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Reddit users in the comments section were sympathetic toward the former bridesmaid.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
-
So the concern is, how sympathetic are the courts going to be to arguments that an agency doesn't have the personnel or the person power to get through the FOIA backlog?—
Tax Notes Staff,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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