softness

softness
noun
1. the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded (Freq. 2)
Ant: ↑hardness
Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑consistency, ↑consistence, ↑eubstance, ↑body
Hyponyms:
2. poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
Syn: ↑unfitness
Ant: ↑fitness (for: ↑unfitness)
Derivationally related forms: ↑soft, ↑unfit (for: ↑unfitness)
Hypernyms: ↑ill health, ↑unhealthiness, ↑health problem
Hyponyms:
3. the quality of weather that is deliciously mild and soothing
-

the day's heat faded into balminess

-

the climate had the softness of the south of France

Syn: ↑balminess
Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑mildness, ↑clemency
4. a state of declining economic condition
-

orders have recently picked up after a period of extreme softness

-

he attributes the disappointing results to softness in the economy

Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑economic condition
5. a sound property that is free from loudness or stridency
-

and in softness almost beyond hearing

Ant: ↑loudness
Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑sound property
Hyponyms: ↑faintness, ↑decrescendo, ↑diminuendo, ↑piano, ↑pianissimo
6. a visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare
-

the softness of the morning sky

Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑visual property
7. acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
-

his fingers have learned gentleness

-

suddenly her gigantic power melted into softness for the baby

-

even in the pulpit there are moments when mildness of manner is not enough

Syn: ↑gentleness, ↑mildness
Derivationally related forms: ↑mild (for: ↑mildness), ↑soft, ↑gentle (for: ↑gentleness)
Hypernyms: ↑manner, ↑personal manner
8. the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man)
-

the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy

-

Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness

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he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him

Derivationally related forms: ↑unmanly (for: ↑unmanliness), ↑womanish (for: ↑womanishness), ↑sissy (for: ↑sissiness), ↑effeminate (for: ↑effeminateness)
Usage Domain: ↑disparagement, ↑depreciation, ↑derogation
Hypernyms: ↑femininity, ↑muliebrity
Hyponyms: ↑emasculation
9. the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
Derivationally related forms: ↑fuzzy (for: ↑fuzziness), ↑foggy (for: ↑fogginess), ↑blurry (for: ↑blurriness), ↑indistinct (for: ↑indistinctness)
Hypernyms: ↑opacity, ↑opaqueness
Hyponyms: ↑dimness, ↑faintness, ↑vagueness
10. a disposition to be lenient in judging others
-

softness is not something permitted of good leaders

Derivationally related forms: ↑soft
Hypernyms: ↑indulgence, ↑lenience, ↑leniency

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Softness — Soft ness, n. [AS. s?ftness, s?ftnyss.] The quality or state of being soft; opposed to {hardness}, and used in the various specific senses of the adjective. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Softness — may refer to:* The opposite of one of the many types of hardness. * A texture which is the opposite of roughness …   Wikipedia

  • softness — index lenience, mollification Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Softness — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Softness >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 softness softness pliableness &c. >Adj. Sgm: N 1 flexibility flexibility Sgm: N 1 pliancy pliancy pliability Sgm: N 1 sequacity sequacity malleability …   English dictionary for students

  • softness — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Quality of yielding readily to pressure Nouns 1. softness, pliableness, pliancy, pliability, flexibility; malleability; ductility, tractility; extendability, extensibility; plasticity; flaccidity,… …   English dictionary for students

  • softness — soft ► ADJECTIVE 1) easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold. 2) not rough or coarse in texture. 3) quiet and gentle. 4) (of light or colour) pleasingly subtle; not harsh. 5) sympathetic or lenient, especially excessively so. 6) informal (of a job… …   English terms dictionary

  • softness in the economy —    a recession    When it would seem, conversely, that times are hard:     Instead he insists that the current campaign was planned five months ago and is running because of softness in the economy. (Daily Telegraph, 29 October 1998, referring to …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • softness — noun see soft I …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • softness — See softly. * * * …   Universalium

  • softness — noun The quality of being soft. Ant: hardness …   Wiktionary

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