softhearted

adjective

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌhär-təd How to pronounce softhearted (audio)
Definition of softheartednext
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others a softhearted person who never hesitates to help anyone in trouble

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of softhearted Ben Lewis Doherty, playing a boy named Sam whose life is upended by Robbie, is the show’s greatest innocent, a softhearted moppet who warns deer to be careful when crossing the street. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025 Your softhearted grandfather might have given you one of their figurines for Christmas one year, or your sentimental mother-in-law might have decorated her guest bathroom with their wall hangings. — Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023 The struggle to save the farm deepens the partnership between Craig, softhearted but realistic, and Jillian, the persistent Jiminy Cricket on his shoulder. — James Poniewozik, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023 Ford received a standing ovation last spring at the Cannes Film Festival, and his gruff but softhearted demeanor works. — Dan Lybarger, Arkansas Online, 29 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softhearted
  1. compassionate
  2. benevolent
  3. kind
  4. sympathetic
  5. humane
Adjective
  • Healthcare needs talented, compassionate clinicians now more than ever.
    — Jeff Giullian, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Social Security uses technology to scan disability applications for conditions on the compassionate allowances list, and those applications often receive approval within days, according to one law firm.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • In Chinese mythology, for example, dragons are revered as powerful, benevolent beings associated with rain, rivers, and fertility.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • His single mom, Laura, got by with assistance from the local church and benevolent relatives, including one who bought Warner football cleats.
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of benevolent
Adjective
  • Say the kind thing, ask the real question, and let connection grow through simple effort instead of silent hoping today.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In these moments and others, HOTD has sometimes espoused a form of gender essentialism that suggests Rhaenyra and Alicent are both inherently kinder and better than the men around them.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • Jean is ultimately revealed to be a sympathetic character in search of her sister, Sara Grey (Olivia Booth-Ford), who has been captured by the government organization Damage Control in order to exploit her psychic powers.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And Aparna Nancherla warms up the ice-cold cast of characters as Matt and Jake’s sympathetic but powerless buddy in HR.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of sympathetic
Adjective
  • The right mix of true and imagined can give the simplest of humane narratives — in this case, the possibility of renewal in an epidemic of hurt — a fresher chance to touch us.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The extermination method should be both practical and humane.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of humane

Browse Nearby Words

softheads
softhearted
softheartedly
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Cite this Entry

“Softhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softhearted. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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