Softness

//ˈsɔftnəs// noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The quality of being soft. uncountable, usually

    "[…] the informal dressers, with their "divided skirts" and stealthy advances towards confessed trouserdom, are the strong-minded sisterhood, to whom the softnesses of sex are abominations […]"

  2. 2
    a disposition to be lenient in judging others wordnet
  3. 3
    the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man) wordnet
  4. 4
    the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines wordnet
  5. 5
    acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered wordnet
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded wordnet
  2. 7
    a visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare wordnet
  3. 8
    a sound property that is free from loudness or stridency wordnet
  4. 9
    a state of declining economic condition wordnet
  5. 10
    the quality of weather that is deliciously mild and soothing wordnet
  6. 11
    poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury) wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
gentlenessindistinctnessacceptanceadynamiaairinessanemia

Example

More examples

"The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation."

Etymology

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

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.