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
-
After three days on the lam, Chesney was coaxed back with comforting voices and familiar scents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026 -
Wisconsin’s most common spiders are harmless and don’t bite humans, even when coaxed, according to the University of Wisconsin.—
Caden Perry,
jsonline.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lutz has applauded Miller’s hiring; the coaches plan to have lunch this week.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Schumacher applauded the work Pederson has been putting in, saying the results haven’t matched the effort, but the Rangers will need that to change in the regular season.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Miles praised the defensive effort of South Carolina.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The shoe was a hit, praised equally for its design as its comfort, and is currently available in 19 different colorways and materials, including pink or leopard ponyhair, white leather, and tan suede.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Speakers also thanked and congratulated their teams, including prosecutors, police officers, and social workers for helping keep children safe.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In a statement on Monday, Johnson congratulated King on landing the gig.—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Jackson should be commended for taking a thoughtful step to strengthen consumer trust and the future of recycling innovation.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Beatriz Andre, acting regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, commended Justin and Wonderful for reaching the settlement.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Davidson, a 6-foot-1 freshman, stroked a perfect shot from the right side to send the Trojans (18-13) into a second-round matchup with top seed South Carolina on Monday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
One contestant in a Travis Kelce butt cut leaped over an ironing board; another held a tape measure to his crotch and stroked it.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This needn’t been a timid admission;—she’d be flattered to hear it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Epstein flattered them and gave them advice to build trust.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Soft-soaped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-soaped. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
