as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking strength of will or character
softness is the one quality that the public will not tolerate in a leader
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of softness
Players can gain leverage while the ecosystem around them loses some of its old softness.
—
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The curved and recessed arms are comfortable and add softness to the design, and the seat and back are padded with thick foam that’s supportive and won’t crush with use.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Follow with the conditioner, which uses shea butter to add slip and softness, leaving hair shinier from root to tip.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Grasses, elephant ear and oleander Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture to summer landscapes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Across the interiors, a local paper artist has fashioned traditional Kurotani Japanese paper into fixtures like the sliding doors and other furnishings to bring a softness to the home’s design.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2026
Our tester loved the supportive feel of the footbed, the softness of the straps against the skin, and the absence of chafing — just to name a few star qualities.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Plush featured soft fabrics made with chenille, velour and corduroy to mimic the warmth and softness of cashmere.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
The curved and recessed arms are comfortable and add softness to the design, and the seat and back are padded with thick foam that’s supportive and won’t crush with use.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
Follow with the conditioner, which uses shea butter to add slip and softness, leaving hair shinier from root to tip.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Grasses, elephant ear and oleander Ornamental grasses like muhly grass and fountain grass add movement, softness and texture to summer landscapes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Across the interiors, a local paper artist has fashioned traditional Kurotani Japanese paper into fixtures like the sliding doors and other furnishings to bring a softness to the home’s design.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Apr. 2026
Our tester loved the supportive feel of the footbed, the softness of the straps against the skin, and the absence of chafing — just to name a few star qualities.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Plush featured soft fabrics made with chenille, velour and corduroy to mimic the warmth and softness of cashmere.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softness
weakness
Noun
-
Some analysts have raised alarms about how weakness in a key node of the web, like OpenAI, could set off a chain reaction that could threaten the entire AI ecosystem.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to his senior year, Maloney worked extremely hard to correct his weakness.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softness. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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