soft palate
noun
: the fold at the back of the hard palate that partially separates the mouth from the pharynx
Examples of soft palate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring should be especially cautious, because gravity can pull the tongue and soft palate backward and block the airway.
—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Gravity can cause the tongue and soft palate to fall back and obstruct the airway, making breathing harder.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate backward in the supine position, which can obstruct the airway.
—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate – areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA.
—
New Atlas,
10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soft palate
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Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Gravity can cause the tongue and soft palate to fall back and obstruct the airway, making breathing harder.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate backward in the supine position, which can obstruct the airway.
—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate – areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA.
—
New Atlas,
10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for soft palate
Cite this Entry
“Soft palate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft%20palate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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