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Meaning & use

soft

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/sɒft/
US/sɔːft/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Pleasant to touch and easy to press or shape, not hard or rough.

    Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb: a soft pillow, the bed feels soft.

    Patterns

    • soft to the touch

    The baby's blanket was soft and warm.

    This bread is still soft inside.

    The fabric feels soft against your skin.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Quiet, gentle or low in strength, such as a sound, light or color.

    Grammar: Describes quality: a soft voice, soft light.

    Patterns

    • a soft voice

    She spoke in a soft voice so as not to wake him.

    The room was lit by soft candlelight.

    The walls were painted a soft shade of green.

  3. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Kind or gentle, or too lenient and not firm enough.

    Grammar: Often with on: soft on crime.

    Patterns

    • soft on someone
    • soft on something

    The coach was strict but not unkind; he had a soft side.

    Critics said the judge was too soft on offenders.

    Don't be soft with them or they'll take advantage.

  4. adjectivebefore a noun

    Not containing alcohol or other strong substances, as in a drink or drug.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: soft drink.

    Patterns

    • soft drink

    The cafe serves soft drinks and juices.

    Is this soft drink free of caffeine?

    Soft drugs are treated differently by some laws.

Word forms

comparativesofter
superlativesoftest

Common combinations

soft drink
I'll have a soft drink, please.
soft spot for
He has a soft spot for old movies.
soft voice
She spoke in a soft voice.
soft toy
The child hugged her soft toy.
soft landing
The plane made a soft landing.
soft on
Voters want leaders who are not soft on crime.

Synonyms and how they differ

tender
Suggests delicate or easily hurt, and also gentle feelings.
gentle
Focuses on mild force or manner, not texture.
lenient
Applies only to people or rules that are not strict enough.
spongy
Describes a springy, squashy texture, more specific than soft.

Opposites

hardharshstrict

Word family

softly adverb
quietly or gently
softness noun
the quality of being soft
soften verb
to make or become soft
software noun
computer programs

Commonly confused: soft or sofa?

soft vs sofa

A sofa is a long seat; it is not related despite the similar spelling.

Practice

The mayor was criticized for being too ___ on people who dropped litter.

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