1. The property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or moulded
   "The softness of the clay made it perfect for sculpting"
    
2. Acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
   "suddenly her gigantic power melted into softness for the baby";
   - gentleness, mildness
    
3. A sound property that is free from loudness or stridency
   "and in softness almost beyond hearing"
    
4. A visual property that is subdued and free from brilliance or glare
   "the softness of the morning sky"
    
5. The quality of being indistinct and without sharp outlines
   "The softness of the distant mountains added to the mysterious atmosphere";
   - indistinctness, blurriness, fogginess, fuzziness
    
6. The trait of being effeminate (derogatory of a man)
   "he was shocked by the softness of the atmosphere surrounding the young prince, arising from the superfluity of the femininity that guided him";
   - effeminacy, effeminateness, sissiness, womanishness, unmanliness
    
7. A disposition to be lenient in judging others
   "softness is not something permitted of good leaders"
    
8. Poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury)
   "Years of sedentary work had led to a general softness in his physique";
   - unfitness
    
9. The quality of weather that is deliciously mild and soothing
   "the climate had the softness of the south of France";
   - balminess
    
10. 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"

Type of: body, clemency, consistence, consistency, economic condition, femininity, health problem, ill health, indulgence, lenience, leniency, manner, mildness, muliebrity, opacity, opaqueness, personal manner, sound property, substance, unhealthiness, visual property

Antonym: fitness, hardness, loudness

Encyclopedia: Softness