softness

/'sɔftnis/

Thân thiện

The kitten's fur has a wonderful softness.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A lack of harshness or severity; gentleness, mildness: The quality of being lenient, gentle, or not strict.
   • A lack of strength, vigor, or firmness; weakness, effeminacy (often derogatory when applied to a man): The quality of being delicate, lacking in robustness, or having traits stereotypically associated with femininity.
   • A lack of clarity or sharpness; indistinctness: The quality of being blurred, vague, or not clearly defined.
   • A subdued or gentle quality in appearance, sound, or texture: The property of being muted, not bright, loud, or rough.
   • A period of poor economic performance; a slump: A state of declining economic activity or demand.
   • Pleasant, mild weather conditions: The quality of weather that is pleasantly temperate and soothing.
   • Poor physical condition due to lack of exercise; flabbiness: The state of being physically unfit or out of shape.
   • The physical property of being easily shaped or compressed; malleability, pliability: The quality of a material that yields to pressure without breaking.

Usage Examples

• Gentleness/Mildness:
  • Her voice was filled with a surprising softness when she spoke to the child.
  • The teacher's softness in grading was appreciated by the struggling students.
• Lack of Strength/Effeminacy:
  • The general criticized the army's recruitment policy, fearing it would lead to softness.
  • He was unfairly accused of softness because of his artistic interests.
• Indistinctness:
  • The softness of the image was due to the camera being out of focus.
  • The softness of the distant mountains made them look like a painting.
• Subdued Quality:
  • I prefer the softness of lamplight to the harsh glare of overhead fluorescents.
  • The fabric was chosen for its incredible softness against the skin.
• Economic Slump:
  • The softness in the housing market has made buyers hesitant.
  • Analysts predict a period of softness in consumer spending.
• Mild Weather:
  • We enjoyed the softness of the spring air.
  • The softness of the climate is the region's main attraction.
• Poor Physical Condition:
  • A life of luxury had led to a noticeable softness in his physique.
• Physical Malleability:
  • The softness of the clay made it easy for the potter to shape.

Advanced Usage

• "to show softness": to display leniency or gentleness.
  • The judge showed unexpected softness in his final ruling.
• "a touch of softness": a slight element of gentleness or mildness.
  • The critic's review had a touch of softness, acknowledging the director's good intentions.

Variants and Related Words

• Soft (adj): Having the qualities of softness; not hard, rough, or severe.
  • a soft blanket, a soft voice, a soft heart
• Soften (verb): To make or become soft or softer.
  • The butter will soften if you leave it out.
  • Her expression softened when she saw the puppy.
• Softly (adv.): In a soft manner.
  • She whispered softly.

Synonyms

• Gentleness, Mildness, Leniency (for lack of severity).
• Weakness, Effeminacy, Delicacy (for lack of robustness).
• Indistinctness, Blurriness, Fuzziness (for lack of clarity).
• Mutedness, Subduedness, Low intensity (for subdued quality).
• Slump, Downturn, Weakness (for economic condition).
• Balminess, Mildness, Temperateness (for weather).
• Flabbiness, Unfitness (for physical condition).
• Pliability, Malleability, Suppleness (for physical property).

Related Phrases

• Softness of heart: A tendency to be compassionate or easily moved.
  • His softness of heart prevented him from firing the loyal employee.
• Softness in the market: A specific decline in a particular economic sector.
  • The report highlighted continued softness in the tech sector.

Related Idioms

• To have a soft spot for someone/something: To be especially fond of or vulnerable to.
  • He has a real soft spot for vintage cars.
• Soft touch: A person who is easily persuaded or exploited, especially for money.
  • Don't ask him for a loan; he's known to be a soft touch.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a disposition to be lenient in judging others
   • softness is not something permitted of good leaders
2. the trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man)
   • the students associated science with masculinity and arts with effeminacy
   • Spartans accused Athenians of effeminateness
   • he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him
3. the quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
4. 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
5. a visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare
   • the softness of the morning sky
6. a sound property that is free from loudness or stridency
   • and in softness almost beyond hearing
7. 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
8. 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
9. poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
10. the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded

Từ đồng nghĩa

• effeminacy
• effeminateness
• sissiness
• womanishness
• unmanliness
• indistinctness
• blurriness
• fogginess
• fuzziness
• gentleness
• mildness
• balminess
• unfitness