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
Katzenberg bought a script called 3,000, a dark story about a softhearted prostitute and a heartless businessman.
—
Jeanie Kasindorf, Vulture, 10 July 2024
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
Your softhearted grandfather might have given you one of their figurines for Christmas one year, or your sentimental mother-in-law might have decorated her guest bathroom with their wall hangings.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 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
Mashed potatoes are going on the menu, and Tina, the sharp-tongued, softhearted vegetable cook, has just pulled a sheet pan of whole potatoes from the oven.
—New York Times, 11 July 2022
Chuntao doesn’t want to, but her softhearted husband insists.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2021
Jeanie Kasindorf, Vulture, 10 July 2024
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
Your softhearted grandfather might have given you one of their figurines for Christmas one year, or your sentimental mother-in-law might have decorated her guest bathroom with their wall hangings.
—Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 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
Mashed potatoes are going on the menu, and Tina, the sharp-tongued, softhearted vegetable cook, has just pulled a sheet pan of whole potatoes from the oven.
—New York Times, 11 July 2022
Chuntao doesn’t want to, but her softhearted husband insists.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softhearted
Adjective
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Officials expect about 100 prisoners each year will qualify for compassionate release, Buis said.—
Don Thompson,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
When delivering bad news, be succinct and compassionate.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But at its core, Wrexham’s rapid rise owes mostly to club stumbling into a relationship with a benevolent benefactor with far more resources than most of its now-former fourth- and fifth-division peers.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Kate has always been considered to have a killer instinct and able to make these tough moral choices, and not always in the most benevolent way.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Harrell describes her daughter as a kind, sweet child who always sought to do what was right.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
-
What Lee liked best about playing Go-tak, a seemingly tough guy with a kind heart, was bonding with his fellow actors.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Reddit users in the comments section were sympathetic toward the former bridesmaid.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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He’s matched by his frequent scene mate Nevaeh as the sympathetic girlfriend, and Knight as Henry’s drunken, troubled father with secrets.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The humane society is in the Hickory area, a roughly 55-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.—
Simone Jasper,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2025
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Officers then set a humane trap to catch the third Great Dane the next day and took him to the Humane Colorado buddy center to reunite with his friends.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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