1
as in coaxing
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 massaging
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-soaping
Verb
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With coaxing from Christine’s fellow chorus member Meg Giry (Melo Ludwig) and her mother who oversees the dancers, Madame Giry (Lisa Vroman), Christine is granted the big assignment.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026 -
Has anyone had success with these colorful callas, coaxing them to bloom year after year as advertised?—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Verb
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What makes lemon peels so beneficial is their acidic oils; agitate the peels by rolling, chopping, and massaging them before adding to your soil to extract as many benefits as possible.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
7 June 2026
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To heat, microwave in short intervals, massaging the rice around in between.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The plan was met with mixed reaction, with some praising Starmer for taking action and others questioning the effectiveness of a blanket ban.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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White House communications director Steven Cheung dodged a question about Hokit’s comments at the fight, pivoting to praising the fighter.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Verb
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There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.—
Fran Moreland Johns,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Western, for his part, had by this time recovered something of his usual bluster, and began again upon the subject of Blifil, commending his estate and his family with great earnestness, as though these considerations alone ought to have settled the matter long since.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
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Kennedy then mentioned her daughter and became emotional while commending her work.—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
Verb
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In his concession speech, Eliasch aimed an allegation at the Olympic body and urged FIS to protect its independence before congratulating Ospelt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
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Trump opened the event by welcoming the participants and their families to the White House and congratulating them on their success.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Sunday night’s ceremony offered a different message — Broadway is willing to work with Rudin, but applauding him is still a bridge too far.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
8 June 2026
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The rescue also drew praise on social media, with many users applauding Myron's quick actions and willingness to help a stranger.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Ben spends the afternoon buttering up Ellie and praising her cake-icing skills, and even gives her the task of decorating the wedding cake.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
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The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.—
Ashley Iasimone,
Billboard,
3 Sep. 2019
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-soaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-soaping. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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