The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

compressible, squashy, squashable, flexible, plastic, pliable,
pliant, supple, flexile, flexuous, unstarched: This mattress is
much too soft for my back. 2 easy, comfortable, undemanding,
Colloq cushy: His uncle got him a soft job at the Labour
Ministry. 3 gentle, mild, balmy, pleasant, moderate, warm,
halcyon, springlike, summery, restful, tranquil, relaxing, lazy:
Alexandra was looking forward to a week in the soft Caribbean
climate. 4 subdued, toned or turned down, muted, low, quiet,
melodious, mellifluous or mellifluent, mellow, gentle, faint,
softened, soothing, smooth: Riley thought she might succumb to
the influences of the wine and the soft music and lights. 5
easygoing, tolerant, kind, compassionate, gentle, merciful,
lenient, indulgent, permissive, liberal, lax, easy, docile,
tame, submissive, deferential, benign, tender-hearted,
sympathetic, kind-hearted, kind: Some believe that the jailers
were too soft with the criminals. His parents were far too
soft. 6 Usually, soft in the head. foolish, silly, simple,
Colloq chiefly Brit daft, US off: Kevin must have gone a bit
soft in the head if he thinks that Clara still loves him. 7
depressed, declining, in decline, in recession, slow,
unprofitable, borderline, questionable, weak: Owing to the
stormy, cold summer, the resort business has been soft this
year. 8 downy, silky, silken, satiny, furry, fluffy, feathery,
fleecy, fuzzy, velvety, smooth (as a baby's bottom): The wool
from the lambs is much softer. 9 pastel, pale, delicate, fine,
subdued, light, matte or matt, quiet, diffuse(d), soothing: He
wanted the bedroom painted in soft shades of greenish blue. 10
harmless, non-addictive: Some consider cannabis a soft drug.
11 fuzzy, woolly, blurred, blurry, foggy, diffuse(d): The soft
focus photos of the wedding looked very romantic. 12 weak,
feeble, frail, effete, delicate, non-physical, non-muscular,
puny, flabby, out of training or condition or shape, pampered;
namby-pamby, effeminate, unmanly, unmanful, Colloq sissified,
sissy: He had been out of the marines for so long they thought
he had gone soft. 13 easy, luxurious, pampered, rich, opulent,
plush, posh, Colloq ritzy, swank(y): Since selling his
business, Aubrey Quinton has been living the soft life on the
Costa del Sol.
soften v. 1 Often, soften up. melt, affect, mollify, mellow, palliate,
soothe, relax, appease: Nothing would soften the heart of that
cruel tyrant. 2 mitigate, assuage, diminish, moderate, reduce,
cushion, lessen, weaken, allay, ease, lighten, abate, temper,