soft-soap

1 of 2

verb

ˈsȯf(t)-ˈsōp 

soft-soaped; soft-soaping; soft-soaps

transitive verb

: to soothe or persuade with flattery or blarney

soft-soaper

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌsō-pər 

noun

soft soap

2 of 2

noun

1

: a semifluid soap made especially from potassium hydroxide

2

: flattery

Synonyms

Verb

• blandish
• blarney
• cajole
• coax
• palaver
• sweet-talk
• wheedle

Noun

• adulation
• blarney
• butter
• flannel [British]
• flattery
• incense
• overpraise
• sweet talk
• taffy

Choose the Right Synonym for soft-soap

cajole, coax, soft-soap, blandish, wheedle mean to influence or persuade by pleasing words or actions.

cajole suggests the deliberate use of flattery to persuade in the face of reluctance or reasonable objections.

cajoled him into cheating on the final exam

coax implies gentle and persistent words or actions employed to produce a desired effect.

coaxed the cat out of the tree

soft-soap refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain.

politicians soft-soaping eligible voters

blandish implies a more open desire to win a person over by effusive praise and affectionate actions.

legislators blandished with promises of support

wheedle suggests more strongly than cajole the use of seductive appeal or artful words in persuading.

hucksters wheedling her life's savings out of her

Examples of soft-soap in a Sentence

Verb

she cunningly soft-soaped her parents into letting her go on the trip

shrewd voters who know when a politician is trying to soft-soap them

Noun

a salesman who knows the value of soft soap in making a sale

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

So do her successes in soft-soaping some recalcitrant senators into supporting the mission’s funding. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024

Noun

People should wash any skin that comes into contact with the slurry with water and soft soap, before using a hand cream to avoid dryness and cracking. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 2 Sep. 2024

Most of the questions aimed at the ironic American director of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas were less softballs than soft soap, with reporters as interested in Scorsese’s favorite food — his mother’s lasagna recipe — as the movies in his peerless filmography. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024

Founder and creative director Joy Cho’s lifestyle brand offers whimsical products, spanning bandages to soft soap, as well as regular editorial content online. —Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2021

For spills or stains, spot cleaning with soft soap like Zero or Woolite. —Rachel Klein, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2021

Founder and Creative Director Joy Cho’s lifestyle brand offers whimsical products, spanning Band-Aids to soft soap as well as regular editorial content online. —Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2021

Later, barber is seen crouching on his bed, holding lighted match under jam jar of water, soft soap and boot blacking. —Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 25 May 2020

Potassium hydroxide, on the other hand, produces an easily soluble soft soap. —C. Claiborne Ray, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

soft soap

1 of 2 noun

1

: a partly liquid soap

2

: flattery sense 2

soft-soap

2 of 2 verb

ˈsȯf(t)-ˈsōp

: to soothe or coax with flattery

soft-soaper noun

Medical Definition

soft soap

noun

: soap of a semifluid consistency made principally with potash and having various medical uses (as in the treatment of skin diseases)

specifically : green soap