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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Example Sentences
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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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Though a small sample, their reactions were notably compassionate towards transgender people and supportive of the doctors who provided their care.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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Being more compassionate and respectful to the needs of your squad and family, instead of just asserting your wants, adds a new dimension to your connection with them.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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CEOs take on all sorts of personas, from the benevolent leader to the cutthroat business executive.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 Aug. 2025
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As a benevolent barbarian warrior in the mythical land of Hyrkania, Sonja is enslaved and imprisoned by the ecocidal emperor known as Draygan (Robert Sheehan).—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Budget-conscious indie in a tough marketplace Hernandez, Burns and Henderson launched Counterpart amid an industry contraction that has not been kind to independent companies.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Aug. 2025
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According to the study's findings, kids who were regularly described by parents as helpful and kind at ages five, seven and 11 were more likely to report healthier dietary habits at 14 and 17.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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During World War II, America was also fighting Germany and Italy, but during the war, far fewer German and Italian non-citizen immigrants were interned than Japanese and those who were interned had been carefully vetted by the FBI as being sympathetic to their former homelands.—
Paul L. Newman,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
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There's no telling if the judge who immediately granted the NYT such broad access, Ona Wang, will be sympathetic to OpenAI's arguments at this stage of the battle.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Curious, humane, and full of wit—perfect for anyone thinking seriously not just about how to lead, but about how to be.—
Mark Nevins,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Abubaker thinks the regulations around halal food is part of what’s driving this interest nationwide, with requirements including making sure the animal is healthy at the time of slaughter and ensuring the animal’s death is quick and humane.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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