English dictionary

softness Meaning & Definition

ˈsȯft

What Does Softness Mean?

As an adjective, softness means pleasing or agreeable to the senses. It can also mean having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste.

Quick Facts About Softness

Part of speech	adjective
Pronunciation	/ˈsȯft/
Syllables	1
Synonyms	frailness, frailty and spinelessness
Antonyms	intensity, volume and hardness
Adverb	softly

Softness Definition (Adjective)

pleasing or agreeable to the senses : bringing ease, comfort, or quiet
the soft influences of home
having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste
not bright or glaring : subdued
having or producing little contrast or a relatively short range of tones
a soft photographic print
quiet in pitch or volume
having a liquid or gentle appearance
smooth or delicate in texture, grain, or fiber
soft cashmere / soft fur
balmy, mild, or clement in weather or temperature
moving or falling with slight force or impact : not violent
soft breezes
demanding little work or effort : easy
a soft job
sounding as in ace and gem respectively
voiced
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)
moving in a leisurely manner
rising gradually
a soft slope
having curved or rounded outline : not harsh or jagged
soft hills against the horizon
marked by a gentleness, kindness, or tenderness: such as
not harsh or onerous in character
a policy of soft competition
based on negotiation, conciliation, or flexibility rather than on force, threats, or intransigence
took a soft line during the crisis
tending to take a soft line
tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging, kind
A soft answer turns away wrath …
marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key:1
emotionally suggestible or responsive : impressionable
unduly susceptible to influence : compliant
lacking firmness or strength of character : feeble, unmanly
amorously attracted or emotionally involved
lacking robust strength, stamina, or endurance especially because of living in ease or luxury
grown soft and indolent
weak or deficient mentally
soft in the head
yielding to physical pressure
permitting someone or something to sink in
of a consistency that may be shaped or molded
capable of being spread
easily magnetized and demagnetized
lacking relatively or comparatively in hardness
soft iron
deficient in or free from substances (such as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
soft water
having relatively low energy
soft X-rays
relatively less serious or significant
occurring at such a speed and under such circumstances as to avoid destructive impact
soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon
not protected against enemy attack
a soft aboveground launching site / soft targets
biodegradable
a soft detergent / soft pesticides
considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic
easily polarized
not readily convertible
not secured by collateral
being low due to sluggish market conditions
soft prices
sluggish, slow
a soft market
not firmly committed
soft unreliable political support
soft-core
soft porn
being or based on interpretive or speculative data
soft evidence
utilizing or based on soft data
soft science
being or using renewable sources of energy (such as solar radiation, wind, or tides)
soft technologies
contributed (as by a corporation) to a political party rather than directly to a particular candidate

Synonyms of Softness

frailness frailty spinelessness weakness wimpiness wimpishness wishy-washiness dull gentle low quiet cottony downy satin satiny silken silklike silky velvetlike velvety flabby mushy pulpy spongy squashy squishy squooshy cheap downhill easy effortless facile fluent fluid hands-down light painless ready royal simple smooth snap asthenic debilitated delicate down-and-out effete enervated enfeebled faint feeble frail infirm languid prostrate prostrated sapped slight softened tender unsubstantial wasted weak weakened wimpish wimpy characterless invertebrate limp-wristed milk-and-water namby-pamby nerveless spineless weak-kneed weakling wet wishy-washy balmy benign bland mellow mild nonabrasive soothing comfortable comfy cozy cushy snug charitable clement indulgent equable genial moderate temperate airheaded birdbrained bonehead boneheaded brain-dead brainless bubbleheaded chuckleheaded dense dim dim-witted doltish dopey dorky dumb dunderheaded empty-headed fatuous gormless half-witted knuckleheaded lamebrain lunkheaded mindless oafish obtuse opaque pinheaded senseless slow slow-witted softheaded stupid thick thick-witted thickheaded unintelligent unsmart vacuous weak-minded witless

Softness synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Softness

intensity volume hardness loudness backbone chutzpah firmness fortitude hardihood mettle moxie nerve resoluteness strength toughness discipline self-discipline goodness integrity morality rectitude righteousness rightness uprightness virtuousness blaring blasting booming clamorous clangorous deafening earsplitting loud overloud piercing plangent resounding ringing roaring sonorous stentorian thundering thunderous brazen crashing dinning discordant noisy obstreperous raucous rip-roaring vociferous grating harsh shrill squealing strident clarion clear trumpetlike coarse rough scratchy bumpy irregular jagged lumpy pebbly broken ragged roughened rugged scraggy grainy granular gritty firm hard solid inelastic inflexible rigid stiff tense unbending unyielding resistant sound strong sturdy tough case-hardened crush-proof hardened indurated stiffened tempered compacted compressed condensed adamantine rock rocklike substantial arduous demanding difficult exacting formidable grueling herculean killer labored laborious murderous severe strenuous toilful toilsome burdensome exhausting onerous oppressive painful stressful taxing troublesome abstruse complex complicated intricate involved knotty problematic recondite mighty powerful stalwart stout able-bodied athletic beefy brawny fit husky muscular sinewy strapping virile hardy lusty red-blooded robust fortified inured strengthened toughened energetic energized invigorated vigorous vitalized hale healthy capable competent convalescing recovering recuperating backboned ethical good moral principled right righteous upright virtuous determined mettlesome resolute unrelenting courageous stouthearted abrasive caustic scathing stern ungentle exquisite fierce intense forceful forcible savage violent abrading irritating roughening grim gruff rude heavy-handed pitiless tyrannical uncomfortable inhospitable uninviting unpleasant strict uncharitable unforgiving intolerant uncompromising inclement intemperate blustering blustery breezy gusty squally stormy windy misty rainy showery bleak cloudy dismal foggy gloomy gray hazy overcast sunless bitter dirty foul nasty raw apt brainy bright brilliant clever fast hyperintelligent intelligent keen nimble quick quick-witted sharp sharp-witted smart supersmart ultrasmart ingenious resourceful acute astute discerning insightful knowing perceptive percipient perspicacious sagacious sage sapient savvy wise cerebral erudite highbrow intellectual knowledgeable learned literate scholarly thinking well-read educated informed schooled skilled trained crafty cunning foxy shrewd wily judicious prudent sane sensible logical rational reasonable valid

Softness in a Sentence

the soft influences of home

a soft photographic print

soft cashmere

soft fur

soft breezes

a soft job

a soft slope

soft hills against the horizon

a policy of soft competition

took a soft line during the crisis

A soft answer turns away wrath …

grown soft and indolent

soft in the head

soft iron

soft water

soft X-rays

soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon

a soft aboveground launching site

soft targets

a soft detergent

soft pesticides

soft prices

a soft market

soft unreliable political support

soft porn

soft evidence

soft science

soft technologies

softness is the one quality that the public will not tolerate in a leader

soft music played in the background while we ate

I like this sweater the best because it is so soft and comfortable

soft mattresses make it very easy to fall asleep, but they have a tendency to get lumpy

looking for a soft job in local government

soft recruits who will get toughened up in the army

a soft person who tends to yield to stronger personalities

a soft breeze coming off the lake

a warm, soft bed to rest my weary bones

felt that his wife had been a little too soft on their son, and that more discipline was in order

it was a lovely soft spring evening

sometimes I wonder if you've gone soft in the head

soft cashmere / soft fur

a soft aboveground launching site / soft targets

a soft detergent / soft pesticides

Word Forms & Grammar

soft·ish adjective

soft·ly adverb

soft·ness noun

soft

softer

softest

softish

softly

softness

softnesses

softness (usually uncountable, plural softnesses)

Origin of Softness

Origin 1: Middle English, from Old English sōfte, alteration of sēfte; akin to Old High German semfti soft

Origin 2: From Middle English softnesse, from Old English sōftnes, alteration of earlier sēftnes. Equivalent to soft +‎ -ness.

First Known Use

before 12th century

How Do You Say Softness?

You say softness as /ˈsȯft/. It has 1 syllable.

Questions People Ask About Softness

What part of speech is softness?

Softness is an adjective.

What is another word for softness?

You can replace softness with words such as frailness, frailty and spinelessness. See the full list of softness synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of softness?

Words opposite in meaning to softness are intensity, volume, hardness and loudness.