soft sell
noun
: the use of suggestion or gentle persuasion in selling rather than aggressive pressure compare hard sell
Examples of soft sell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whether the soft sell of his broad, intricate talent can ever resonate beyond that is another issue.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Netflix picked up a beloved small studio with a knack for narrative—a soft sell for a company wanting to highlight storytelling on streaming services.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 19 July 2023
How is the soft sell done?
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
People prefer a soft sell.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 9 June 2022
Low-stress, loyalty-building sales techniques are preferred in these times Less direct sales techniques such as the soft sell are proving to be a winning strategy in this new principled environment.
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
But the longevity and staying power of the Charles Heidsieck brand — nearly 200 years later — required deeper roots than those indicated by a soft sell delivered from white gloved hands.
—Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 7 July 2022
And the occasional soft sell for Botox and fillers feels at odds with its otherwise impeccable ethos of healthy aging.
—Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2020
These promotions are the soft sell behind the softest of purchases.
—Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Netflix picked up a beloved small studio with a knack for narrative—a soft sell for a company wanting to highlight storytelling on streaming services.
—Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 19 July 2023
How is the soft sell done?
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
People prefer a soft sell.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 9 June 2022
Low-stress, loyalty-building sales techniques are preferred in these times Less direct sales techniques such as the soft sell are proving to be a winning strategy in this new principled environment.
—Kj Callihan, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021
But the longevity and staying power of the Charles Heidsieck brand — nearly 200 years later — required deeper roots than those indicated by a soft sell delivered from white gloved hands.
—Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 7 July 2022
And the occasional soft sell for Botox and fillers feels at odds with its otherwise impeccable ethos of healthy aging.
—Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2020
These promotions are the soft sell behind the softest of purchases.
—Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Soft sell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20sell. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share