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Definitions

soft-shell

[sawft-shel, soft-] / ˈsɔftˌʃɛl, ˈsɒft- /
ADJECTIVE
compassionate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
benevolent charitable humane merciful sympathetic warm warmhearted
STRONG
forbearing pitying sparing tender understanding
WEAK
all heart being big bleeding-heart commiserative going easy on humanitarian indulgent kindhearted kindly lenient living with old softie piteous responsive softhearted tenderhearted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cold cool cruel inhumane malevolent mean merciless uncaring unfeeling unfriendly unkind unsympathetic
STRONG
intolerant
WEAK
hard harsh hateful indifferent tyrannous
ADJECTIVE
counterfeit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bogus copied false fictitious forged fraudulent phony spurious
STRONG
Hollywood affected assumed bent brummagem crock ersatz faked feigned framed imitation misleading mock pirate plant pretended pseudo put on sham wrong
WEAK
deceptive delusive delusory fishy not genuine not kosher pretentious snide suppositious two-faced won't fly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
actual authentic factual genuine honest real sincere true truthful valid
STRONG
OK
ADJECTIVE
forbearing
Synonyms
STRONG
forgiving gentle moderate
WEAK
being big charitable clement considerate easy going easy on going easy with humane humanitarian indulgent lenient living with long-suffering longanimous merciful mild patient thoughtful
Antonyms
STRONG
violent wild
WEAK
impatient intolerant merciless strict uncontrolled
ADJECTIVE
lenient
Synonyms
STRONGEST
benign compassionate compliant forgiving indulgent sympathetic tolerant
WEAK
allowing amiable assuaging assuasive being big benignant charitable clement complaisant condoning easy easygoing emollient excusing favoring forbearing gentle going easy on good-natured humoring kind kindly letting live with loving merciful mild mollycoddling obliging pampering pardoning permitting soft softhearted sparing spoiling tender yielding
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hateful merciless
WEAK
hard intolerant limiting restrictive rigorous severe

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A recent Thursday gathering persuaded Girouard to abandon the launch of a windproof soft-shell jacket.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

A couple models are sufficiently protective that the wearers don’t have to practice with Guardian Caps, the soft-shell covers that fit over standard helmets to provide additional cushion and protection.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2024

In the 1970s, soft-shell clams started mysteriously dying off in Maine and the Chesapeake Bay.

From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Another terrific sidebar, later in the film, has Hae-joon distracted and chasing after stolen soft-shell turtles, which generates an amusing sight gag.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2022

“It’s soft-shell crab,” Grandma said, inching forward as the line did.

From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds