as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a softhearted person who never hesitates to help anyone in trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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Recent Examples of softhearted
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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softhearted
Adjective
-
Audrey Jones described her brother — who left behind two children — as loving, kind and compassionate.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Our compassionate president posted a heartfelt statement for former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who came from a wealthy family, and upon graduating from Princeton University, volunteered for service (no bone spurs here).—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Seham Hassen was known for her kindness, faith and deep love for her family.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Luplow, 36, is one of four winners of the inaugural FECK Awards, a national program created by Chaz Ebert to recognize people who show exemplary forgiveness, empathy, compassion and kindness, or FECK.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Carolyn didn’t want to go but relented after being encouraged by her sister and some newfound tenderness toward her husband.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But while her previous pictures never shied away from tenderness despite their outré scenarios, her latest is a far more melancholy affair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
McTeigue created subtle variations on the mask so that V could look slightly more sinister or benevolent depending on the lighting.—
Matthew Huff,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The primary seller gets to look benevolent, having kept prices low for fans.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
None of them had sent me flowers, or even a sympathy card.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Washington Post investigation revealed that the Russians even proposed to stage a fake assassination of Orbán, in order to build more sympathy for him.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Something as small as a kind word to a stranger can be as impactful as any headlining performance.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These are big walleyes, the kind sportsmen pose with for pictures in the local newspapers.—
Dave Duffey,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Choose a task and finish it with heart!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The post also included a red heart.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His sympathetic patter also gives Guirgis an opportunity to start weaving in the character’s politics.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
-
To the chat-group members, her signature came as a particular disappointment, because she was seen as more sympathetic to their concerns.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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