softness
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:
compressibility, squeezability, sponginess, downiness, featheriness,
fluffiness, flabbiness, limpness, flaccidity, mushiness, pulpiness
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:
infirmity, frailty, debility, feebleness, frailness,
valetudinarianism, disability, disablement, handicap, impairment
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
- he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him
• Syn:
effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, womanishness, unmanliness
• 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
• Syn:
indistinctness, blurriness, fogginess, fuzziness
• Ant:
sharpness, distinctness (for: indistinctness)
• 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
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