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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Family remembers Nazir Bell Bell's family described him as a bright and compassionate young man with a promising future.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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Plenty of evangelical pastors, writers, and advocates have called for and modelled a more compassionate and inclusive faith.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Sadly, Pennywise is not a benevolent creature.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
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Others prioritize self-interest, often cloaked in benevolent language.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Levine, of course, had even kinder things to say about the contestant who prompted all three to turn their chairs during the audition round.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 June 2026
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Each edition is a well-aged rye whiskey that has been given a first-of-its kind cask finish.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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Workplaces 'rarely make room' for grief The managers at the next company seemed sympathetic.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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Considerably more sympathetic to her plight is Melanie Saunders (Graynor), a high-minded acting teacher whose intensive Act One studio Hannah chances upon while researching her favorite young actress, Gracie Thomas (Tavi Gevinson), online.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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Since the facility opened, immigration advocates said the tents were never safe or humane to hold people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
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Jeffrey Lee was scheduled to be put to death on July 11 for a 1998 double murder, but challenged the relatively new form of execution — a kind of asphyxiation by gas — which has led to some inmates dying slow, painful death, despite claims that the method is more humane than others.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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