soft

1 of 3

adjective

ˈsȯft 

1

a

: pleasing or agreeable to the senses : bringing ease, comfort, or quiet

the soft influences of home

b

: having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste

c(1)

: not bright or glaring : subdued

(2)

: having or producing little contrast or a relatively short range of tones

a soft photographic print

d

: quiet in pitch or volume

e

of the eyes : having a liquid or gentle appearance

f

: smooth or delicate in texture, grain, or fiber

soft cashmere

soft fur

g(1)

: balmy, mild, or clement in weather or temperature

(2)

: moving or falling with slight force or impact : not violent

soft breezes

2

: demanding little work or effort : easy

a soft job

3

a

: sounding as in ace and gem respectively

—used of c and g or their sound

b

of a consonant : voiced

c

: constituting a vowel before which there is a \y\ sound or a \y\-like modification of a consonant or constituting a consonant in whose articulation there is a \y\-like modification or which is followed by a \y\ sound (as in Russian)

4

archaic : moving in a leisurely manner

5

: rising gradually

a soft slope

6

: having curved or rounded outline : not harsh or jagged

soft hills against the horizon

7

: marked by a gentleness, kindness, or tenderness: such as

a(1)

: not harsh or onerous in character

a policy of soft competition

(2)

: based on negotiation, conciliation, or flexibility rather than on force, threats, or intransigence

took a soft line during the crisis

(3)

: tending to take a soft line

—usually used with on

soft on dictators

soft on law and order

b

: tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging, kind

a soft answer turns away wrath

—Proverbs 15:1 (Revised Standard Version)

c

: marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key entry 1

8

a

: emotionally suggestible or responsive : impressionable

b

: unduly susceptible to influence : compliant

c

: lacking firmness or strength of character : feeble, unmanly

d

: amorously attracted or emotionally involved

—used with on

has been soft on her for years

9

a

: lacking robust strength, stamina, or endurance especially because of living in ease or luxury

grown soft and indolent

b

: weak or deficient mentally

soft in the head

10

a

: yielding to physical pressure

b

: permitting someone or something to sink in

—used of wet ground

c(1)

: of a consistency that may be shaped or molded

(2)

: capable of being spread

d

: easily magnetized and demagnetized

e

: lacking relatively or comparatively in hardness

soft iron

11

: deficient in or free from substances (such as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap

soft water

12

: having relatively low energy

soft X-rays

13

of news : relatively less serious or significant

14

: occurring at such a speed and under such circumstances as to avoid destructive impact

soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon

15

: not protected against enemy attack

a soft aboveground launching site

soft targets

16

: biodegradable

a soft detergent

soft pesticides

17

of a drug : considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic

18

: easily polarized

—used of acids and bases

19

a

of currency : not readily convertible

b

of a loan : not secured by collateral

20

a

: being low due to sluggish market conditions

soft prices

b

: sluggish, slow

a soft market

21

: not firmly committed

soft unreliable political support

22

: soft-core

soft porn

23

a

: being or based on interpretive or speculative data

soft evidence

b

: utilizing or based on soft data

soft science

24

: being or using renewable sources of energy (such as solar radiation, wind, or tides)

soft technologies

25

of money : contributed (as by a corporation) to a political party rather than directly to a particular candidate

softish

ˈsȯf-tish 

adjective

softly

ˈsȯf(t)-lē 

adverb

softness

ˈsȯf(t)-nəs 

noun

soft

2 of 3

adverb

: in a soft or gentle manner : softly

soft

3 of 3

noun

: a soft object, material, or part

the soft of the thumb

Synonyms

Adjective

• dull
• gentle
• low
• quiet

Examples of soft in a Sentence

Adjective

The ground was soft after the heavy rain.

Iron and lead are soft metals.

The room was painted in soft pink.

the soft glow of the moon

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Smooth a small amount onto dry hair to revive soft definition in your second- or third-day curls. —Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 22 Dec. 2024

The bird thrives in alpine grasslands, feeding on tussock grass by stripping its leaves to reach the soft bases. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

Chadwick says that over the last 10 years, football has acted as a glue: managing the country’s image and profile through soft power and diplomacy. —Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

Stylish design choices include a notched collar that’s soft against your neck and the fabric’s honeycomb pattern. —Clint Davis, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English sōfte, alteration of sēfte; akin to Old High German semfti soft

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soft

• have a soft spot
• soft-boiled
• soft chancre
• soft coal
• soft-coated wheaten terrier
• soft-core
• soft drink
• soft-focus
• soft fruit
• soft furnishings
• soft goods
• soft hail
• soft in the head
• soft-land
• soft-line
• soft money
• soft on
• soft palate
• soft-paste porcelain
• soft pedal
• soft rock
• soft rot
• soft sell
• soft serve
• soft-shell
• soft-shell clam
• soft-shelled
• soft-shoe
• soft soap
• soft-spoken
• soft spot
• soft target
• soft-top
• soft touch
• soft toy
• soft wheat
• soft-wooded

Kids Definition

soft

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsȯft 

1

a

: having a pleasing, comfortable, or soothing effect : gentle, mild

soft breezes

b

: not bright or glaring

soft lighting

c

: pleasing to the ear : quiet in pitch or volume

soft voices

d

: smooth or delicate in appearance or feel

a soft silk

2

: demanding little effort : easy

a soft job

3

: sounding as in ace and gem

—used of c and g

4

: gently or gradually curved or rounded : not harsh or jagged

soft hills

5

a

: having a mild gentle disposition : docile

b

: showing sympathetic understanding

took a soft stand toward the rebels

6

: lacking in strength : feeble

soft from easy living

7

: mentally weak

8

a

: yielding to physical pressure

a soft mattress

soft metals such as lead

b

: not as hard as others of its kind

9

: free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap

soft water

10

: occurring at such a speed and in such a way that a destructive crash is avoided

a soft landing on the moon

softly adverb

softness

ˈsȯf(t)-nəs 

noun

soft

2 of 2 adverb

: in a soft manner

Medical Definition

soft

adjective

ˈsȯft 

1

: yielding to physical pressure

2

: deficient in or free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap

soft water

3

: having relatively low energy

soft X-rays

4

: biodegradable

soft pesticides

5

of a drug : considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic

marijuana is usually regarded as a soft drug

6

: easily polarized

—used of acids and bases

7

a

: being or based on interpretive or speculative data

soft evidence

b

: utilizing or based on soft data

soft science