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
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Recent Examples of softness
According to Di Giovanni, the trend aligns with the broader cycles of 30–40 year fashion returns and sits comfortably within both comfort-core and childhood regression movements that offer familiar softness in a chaotic world.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The bank cited headwinds such as lower-than-expected pricing power, relatively narrow windows of operations and consumer softness for lower income households.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Beading, feathers, and pony-hair textures bring sumptuousness to ballet flats, clutches, and ladylike handbags, while plush textures give cloud-like softness to pumps and and tote bags.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
This spray aims to prevent breakage and ease tension during the braid takedown process by adding softness so hair can easily slide through knots and detangle much faster.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Many reviewers commend the softness of the pajamas, too.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
With a memoir, a mentorship program and a fresh outlook, Jordan Chiles is redefining strength through softness, sisterhood and self-belief.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Yolen crafts a Babay Yaga retelling in verse that offers new characters and brings some softness to the mythical witch.
—Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
By night two sleeping on the mattress, her body started to recalibrate and adjust to the softness.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
The bank cited headwinds such as lower-than-expected pricing power, relatively narrow windows of operations and consumer softness for lower income households.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Beading, feathers, and pony-hair textures bring sumptuousness to ballet flats, clutches, and ladylike handbags, while plush textures give cloud-like softness to pumps and and tote bags.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Nov. 2025
This spray aims to prevent breakage and ease tension during the braid takedown process by adding softness so hair can easily slide through knots and detangle much faster.
—Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Many reviewers commend the softness of the pajamas, too.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
With a memoir, a mentorship program and a fresh outlook, Jordan Chiles is redefining strength through softness, sisterhood and self-belief.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Yolen crafts a Babay Yaga retelling in verse that offers new characters and brings some softness to the mythical witch.
—Amber McBride, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
By night two sleeping on the mattress, her body started to recalibrate and adjust to the softness.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softness
weakness
Noun
-
The problem with that is that good teams — the winning franchises — build their teams inside-out by fortifying the offensive and defensive lines, which just happen to be the areas of weakness this season.—
Omar Kelly
November 7,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Exports weren’t the only area that saw surprise weakness.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softness. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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