1
as in coaxing
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in massaging
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-soaping
Verb
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Teams clustered around three cauldrons, coaxing different worts to temperature in preparation for fermentation.—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 27 Dec. 2025
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When Dad came home with every flavor of bagel the bakery sold, their son wasn't interested in eating anything despite lots of coaxing.—
Verb
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Just be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil before massaging it into sore spots.—
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These ads showed images of tractors, mountains of blueberries and a man’s hands massaging a clump of dirt, each segment highlighting a different part of the industry.—
Verb
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Hudson has heard from studio heads, producers and other past collaborators praising her work.—
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In a post on X, Huberman shared the White House’s graphic of the new pyramid, praising the decisions that were made.—
Verb
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In the black-and-white video, MGK could be seen holding his baby daughter's hand, stroking her fingers.—
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At one point Eliot entered the TV room and found Abby with her head on Claire’s lap, Claire stroking her hair.—
Verb
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While presenting her with the RRHOF milestone, Roan gave a speech commending Lauper’s influence and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.—
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Praise abounded for the 36-year-old, with three fellow veterans commending Rojas not just for his play, but also for his demeanor.—
Verb
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Please join us in congratulating Erik on his new role!—
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The couple met via Instagram DM when Rivera sent Herrold a message congratulating her on the success of the show’s first season in 2020.—
Verb
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Amazingly, Exposure contestants go through hours of practice and performance each day without ever seeming to tire, and along with the competitive spirit, there’s a real sense of community, with skaters constantly encouraging, applauding, and appreciating each other.—
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When the final number was finished, the three eldest boys came to the fore on the catwalk mini stage underneath a shower of confetti and took a bow, with Mom and Dad now in the background, applauding politely but proudly.—
Verb
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The preview for The Muppet Show reveals special guest Sabrina Carpenter buttering up Miss Piggy backstage.—
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Cite this Entry
“Soft-soaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soft-soaping. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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