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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Addressing it requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Contemporary, timeless, and deeply intimate in its candor, Scenes From The Divide honored all viewpoints about Mamdani’s potential impact on the Jewish community by anchoring the title in a thoughtful, compassionate lead seeking understanding from voters.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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That’s particularly noteworthy with sloths, with faces configured in a permanently benevolent expression.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
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First bred in Canada and known as a fine water rescue dog, these gentle giants are supremely kind to everyone and display a benevolent, protective nature.—
Aditya Simha,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Dewey’s Dan is a kind and creative painter, and the only slightly chaotic thing Kate has ever loved.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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Wrigley has been especially kind to the Cubs, who now have an 8-1 record with the wind blowing out, and 3-0 with a crosswind.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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In a trial featuring a clash between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, neither of the tech titans has emerged as an overly sympathetic character.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
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The film provides further complexity by not making Bear a sympathetic victim but rather complicit by initially enjoying Nikki’s affections despite their artificial provenance.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Sue Hendrickson — who did not have a high school diploma — received her first university credentials in the form of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Illinois Chicago.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Loosely based on the nonfiction book You and I—The Illness Suddenly Gets Worse by Makiko Miyano and Maho Isono, the story follows the French director of a nursing home who attempts to introduce a more humane care technique and meets a terminally ill Japanese playwright.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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