as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a softhearted person who never hesitates to help anyone in trouble
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Recent Examples of softhearted
Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
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
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
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softhearted
Adjective
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And that’s what drove me creatively — to be authentic, but to be compassionate.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
10 June 2026
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The unconscious Moon in your 8th House of Intimacy forms a graceful trine with compassionate Venus in your 12th House of Solitude, inviting release without drama.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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For Egyptians, crops would not grow without Horus and his benevolent eye shining down between the clouds.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
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The overflow doctor had benevolent eyes and doughy cheeks, like fresh loaves of bread.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Just don’t expect a lot of English–the hotel team were smiley and kind, but spoke a minimal amount.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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Choose circles that feel kind, and show up consistently today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Avenatti isn’t sympathetic to Bankman-Fried’s appeals.—
Camila Grigera Naon,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
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Even some people who are sympathetic to Carl’s concerns see problems with his prescription.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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Indeed, there is likely no method — no matter how humane — that would be immune to constitutional challenge.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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