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softheartedness

noun

1
as in kindness
the capacity for feeling for another's unhappiness or misfortune the kind of softheartedness that makes him an easy target for anyone with a tale of woe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tenderness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others the widow's naive softheartedness makes it hard for her to say "no" to charitable appeals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for softheartedness
  1. kindness
  2. tenderness
  3. sympathy
  4. humaneness
  5. heart
  6. compassion
Noun
  • Following her death, Eloise’s family established the Living for Lulu Foundation to continue her legacy by encouraging kindness and helping animals in need.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • My mother, Cynthia, taught me to go through life with both relentless ambition and kindness.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of kindness
Noun
  • Prison is a place of survival and yes, the book is very keen on studying the ability to retain one’s tenderness in conditions that are intentional about callusing them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Few contemporary filmmakers so richly explore the concept of tenderness quite like Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of tenderness
Noun
  • With a hot war raging in Ukraine, these journalists don’t want to ask for anyone’s sympathy, which in turn heightens their alienation and frustration.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • But, again, sympathy with either club should be in short supply.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sympathy
Noun
  • Colman superbly nails the seeming contradiction between professional medical detachment and humaneness.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of humaneness
Noun
  • Following a short outpatient procedure, the device sits under his skin on his chest, similar to a heart pacemaker.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Our hearts continue to be with the families and loved ones of those who were killed, and with the entire Miami-Dade community enduring an unimaginable time.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Think of fear as a request for your attention and compassion.
    — Marisa G. Franco, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Humans may be needed for tasks that only humans can perform, like holding patients’ hands, but doctors may not be best for compassion and empathy.
    — Abe Baker-Butler, STAT, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of compassion
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

softheartedly
softheartedness
softies
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Cite this Entry

“Softheartedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softheartedness. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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