1
as in coaxed
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
she cunningly soft-soaped her parents into letting her go on the trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in applauded
to praise too much
shrewd voters who know when a politician is trying to soft-soap them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-soaped
Verb
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The frontrunner is considered Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun, who took the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament last season, coaxed them to the Mountain West regular-season title and is a former assistant to Bob Huggins — who endeared himself to K-State fans in just one season in Manhattan.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026 -
Scott Parker has coaxed more structure, but this squad has looked short of Premier League quality from the start, even after a 100-point promotion campaign.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jordi Evolé, the Spanish journalist, made an experiment in 2008, of attending a left-wing meeting and reading out a speech and everybody applauded.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 Mar. 2026
-
In a statement, Compass applauded the changes to Zillow’s rules.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Peppa Pig’s latest season features a storyline about George’s deaf diagnosis and new hearing aid, a move praised by parents and advocates alike.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
16 Mar. 2026
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Raskin praised Huffman for speaking out for the separation of church and state while showing respect for all religions and without attacking people for their faith.—
Alexei Koseff,
San Francisco Chronicle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The moderator also congratulated all nominees and the presenters and winners who expressed their beliefs on air.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
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Oscar host Conan O’Brien held court near the inside bar, where Jon Hamm and others congratulated him on his entertaining performance.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Members commended LoPresto for her bravery in speaking up.—
Jennifer Mayerle,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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In the wake of their arrest and charges, officials have commended the person who made the anonymous tip.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The main specific risk is the potential for nodules or granulomas (small bumps) forming under the skin, especially if improperly placed or massaged.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Korean scalp treatments often come in lightweight, fast-absorbing liquids, essences, or refreshing tonics designed to be massaged directly into the scalp without leaving hair greasy or weighed down.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At the end of the table, Faris, an Iranian refugee who had ended up on drugs, stroked a glass of tea.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
Sarah Moss,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This needn’t been a timid admission;—she’d be flattered to hear it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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Epstein flattered them and gave them advice to build trust.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-soaped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-soaped. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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