1
as in coaxed
to get (someone) to do something by gentle urging, special attention, or flattery
she cunningly soft-soaped her parents into letting her go on the trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in applauded
to praise too much
shrewd voters who know when a politician is trying to soft-soap them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soft-soaped
Verb
-
Renée coaxed a complete sentence.—
Richard Greenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026 -
This has created new temptations, particularly for the young people now being coaxed into putting their weekly allowance toward randomized Call of Duty loot boxes and Polymarket wagers.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Roberts applauded the growing social justice movement coming out of the files release and called for a criminal investigation of Mountbatten-Windsor.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Video shows most lawmakers in the room applauded the line.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has also long praised the game as a powerful teacher of judgement.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The more frugal sides are decried as misers or praised for their market savvy, no matter the surrounding factors.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone congratulated us for making it here from the Olympic qualification.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Crosetto congratulated the officers on their effective response.—
Sharon Braithwaite,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Catholic leaders commended anyone who continues to work for peace and justice, including those who peacefully assemble, and are caring for their immigrant neighbors.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Shapiro commended the strength of the new study.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Myricks then applied it on the back of her hand and evenly massaged the product around the face, focusing on areas with texture or larger pores.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The other two guys, who are wearing undies when not getting massaged, are giving the lightest and most cursory of touches to either the shoulders or the calves.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
Sarah Moss,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s allies have always stroked his ego to get their way.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The look on his face was pleased, flattered, almost boyish.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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Wilson says he's flattered he was thought of to voice a dog.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-soaped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-soaped. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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