Dictionary entry details
• SOFT (adjective)
Meaning:
Yielding readily to pressure or weight
Similar:
flaccid (drooping without elasticity; wanting in stiffness)
flocculent; woolly; wooly (having a fluffy character or appearance)
yielding (lacking stiffness and giving way to pressure)
mushy (having the consistency of mush)
overstuffed (upholstered thickly and deeply)
semisoft; softish (somewhat soft)
downlike; downy; flossy; fluffy (like down or as soft as down)
velvet; velvety (resembling velvet in having a smooth soft surface)
cushioned; cushiony; padded (softened by the addition of cushions or padding)
cottony (resembling cotton; as soft as cotton)
compressible; squeezable (capable of being easily compressed)
cheeselike (having the consistency of cheese)
brushed; fleecy; napped ((of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing)
demulcent; emollient; salving; softening (having a softening or soothing effect especially to the skin)
spongelike; spongy; squashy; squishy (easily squashed; resembling a sponge in having soft porous texture and compressibility)
Attribute:
hardness (the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched; measured on Mohs scale)
Antonym:
hard (resisting weight or pressure)
Meaning:
Compassionate and kind; conciliatory
Context example:
he was soft on his children
Similar:
mellow (having attained to kindliness or gentleness through age and experience)
Also:
warmhearted (marked by warmth of feeling like kindness and sympathy and generosity)
tender (given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality)
Antonym:
hard (dispassionate)
Meaning:
(of sound) relatively low in volume
Context examples:
soft voices / soft music
Similar:
soft-spoken (having a speaking manner that is not loud or harsh)
soft-footed (sound of quiet gentle steps)
murmurous; rustling; soughing; susurrous (characterized by soft sounds)
murmuring; susurrant; whispering (making a low continuous indistinct sound)
low; low-toned (very low in volume)
little; small ((of a voice) faint)
hushed; muted; quiet; subdued (in a softened tone)
gentle (quiet and soothing)
euphonious ((of speech or dialect) pleasing in sound; not harsh or strident)
dull; muffled; muted; softened (being or made softer or less loud or clear)
Also:
quiet (free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound)
Attribute:
intensity; loudness; volume (the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction))
Antonym:
loud (characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity)
Meaning:
Easily hurt
Synonyms:
delicate; soft
Context examples:
soft hands / a baby's delicate skin
Similar:
tender; untoughened (physically untoughened)
Meaning:
Produced with vibration of the vocal cords
Synonyms:
sonant; voiced; soft
Context examples:
a frequently voiced opinion / voiced consonants such as 'b' and 'g' and 'z'
Meaning:
Not protected against attack (especially by nuclear weapons)
Context example:
soft targets
Antonym:
hardened (protected against attack (especially by nuclear weapons))
Meaning:
Used chiefly as a direction or description in music
Synonyms:
piano; soft
Context example:
the piano passages in the composition
Similar:
pianissimo assai; pianissimo (chiefly a direction or description in music; very soft)
Meaning:
(of light) transmitted from a broad light source or reflected
Synonyms:
diffuse; diffused; soft
Antonym:
hard ((of light) transmitted directly from a pointed light source)
Meaning:
(of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward the hard palate; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as 's' and 'sh')
Similar:
continuant; fricative; sibilant; spirant; strident (of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as 'f', 's', 'z', or 'th' in both 'thin' and 'then'))
palatal; palatalised; palatalized (produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the hard palate (as 'y') or with the blade of the tongue near the hard palate (as 'ch' in 'chin' or 'j' in 'gin'))
Antonym:
hard ((of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward or touching the velum)
Meaning:
(of a commodity or market or currency) falling or likely to fall in value
Context example:
the market for computers is soft
Similar:
falling (becoming lower or less in degree or value)
Meaning:
Using evidence not readily amenable to experimental verification or refutation
Context examples:
soft data / the soft sciences
Similar:
qualitative (involving distinctions based on qualities)
Meaning:
Tolerant or lenient
Synonyms:
lenient; indulgent; soft
Context examples:
indulgent parents risk spoiling their children / too soft on the children / they are soft on crime
Similar:
permissive (granting or inclined or able to grant permission; not strict in discipline)
Meaning:
Soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
Synonyms:
gentle; soft
Context examples:
a gentle reprimand / a vein of gentle irony / poked gentle fun at him
Similar:
mild (moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme)
Meaning:
Having little impact
Synonyms:
easy; gentle; soft
Context examples:
an easy pat on the shoulder / gentle rain / a gentle breeze / a soft (or light) tapping at the window
Similar:
light (of little intensity or power or force)
Meaning:
Out of condition; not strong or robust; incapable of exertion or endurance
Synonyms:
flabby; flaccid; soft
Context examples:
he was too soft for the army / flabby around the middle / flaccid cheeks
Similar:
unfit (not in good physical or mental condition; out of condition)
Meaning:
Willing to negotiate and compromise
Similar:
conciliative; conciliatory (intended or likely to overcome animosity or hostility)
Meaning:
Not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship
Synonyms:
cushy; easygoing; soft
Context examples:
what a cushy job! / the easygoing life of a parttime consultant / a soft job
Similar:
easy (posing no difficulty; requiring little effort)
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Meaning:
Mild and pleasant
Synonyms:
balmy; mild; soft
Context examples:
balmy days and nights / the climate was mild and conducive to life or growth / a soft breeze
Similar:
clement ((of weather or climate) physically mild)
Meaning:
Not brilliant or glaring
Synonyms:
subdued; soft
Context examples:
the moon cast soft shadows / soft pastel colors / subdued lighting
Similar:
dull (emitting or reflecting very little light)
• SOFT (adverb)
Meaning:
In a relaxed manner; or without hardship
Synonyms:
soft; easy
Context example:
just wanted to take it easy
Domain usage:
colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)
Pertainym:
soft (not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship)
