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
Made from a blend of cotton, Tencel, and spandex, the Quince Bella Stretch Barrel Jeans deliver softness, breathability, and flexibility in one streamlined design.
—
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Virtue Damage Reverse Hair Serum The full list of Virtue’s Damage Reverse Serum’s benefits includes improved resilience, strand plumpness, volume, softness, as well as reduced shedding, heat damage, frizz, and split ends.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The designers recommend items like oversized rugs in natural fibers such as wool to help add softness in the room.
—Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
The team also revealed that the resulting dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) fibers exhibit intrinsic softness, with an overall Young’s modulus of 37 MPa, enabling electrically controllable actuation modes with high freedom in bending, compression, and three-dimensional(3D) swirling motions.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
Reckless, bullying, chaos-sparking players don’t fit into today’s NFL softness.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
The filling is a hypoallergenic down alternative for those who love the softness of natural feathers without the fuss.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026
The delicate straps of a Mary Jane style add a touch of romantic softness and a charming focal point under a wide hem.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2026
Cozy Cashmere Cloud styles add warmth and softness for everyday wear.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Virtue Damage Reverse Hair Serum The full list of Virtue’s Damage Reverse Serum’s benefits includes improved resilience, strand plumpness, volume, softness, as well as reduced shedding, heat damage, frizz, and split ends.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The designers recommend items like oversized rugs in natural fibers such as wool to help add softness in the room.
—Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 12 Mar. 2026
The team also revealed that the resulting dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) fibers exhibit intrinsic softness, with an overall Young’s modulus of 37 MPa, enabling electrically controllable actuation modes with high freedom in bending, compression, and three-dimensional(3D) swirling motions.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Mar. 2026
Reckless, bullying, chaos-sparking players don’t fit into today’s NFL softness.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
The filling is a hypoallergenic down alternative for those who love the softness of natural feathers without the fuss.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2026
The delicate straps of a Mary Jane style add a touch of romantic softness and a charming focal point under a wide hem.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2026
Cozy Cashmere Cloud styles add warmth and softness for everyday wear.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softness
weakness
Noun
-
The president's endorsement didn't clear the GOP crowded field to replace Greene — some observers cast that as a sign of weakness — but Fuller easily overcame other Republican contenders.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
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Some policy defenders contend that the labor market weakness reflects adjustments to immigration restrictions rather than fundamental economic failure, positioning this as a deliberate policy choice rather than an economic failure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softness. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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