Soft vs. Delicate: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
Soft refers to something yielding to touch or pressure, while delicate implies fragility or fineness, often needing careful handling.
Key Differences
Soft and delicate are adjectives with varying nuances. Soft typically denotes a texture or sound that is gentle, smooth, or yielding to touch or pressure. It is versatile, describing anything from textures to sounds, indicating a lack of harshness or roughness. For instance, a soft pillow provides comfort, and a soft melody soothes the listener, expressing mildness or tenderness in quality.
Delicate, on the other hand, primarily conveys a sense of fragility or fineness and often necessitates careful handling or treatment. It may refer to objects, flavors, feelings, or situations. A delicate glass ornament may easily break, and a delicate subject may require tactful discussion, reflecting subtlety or vulnerability in essence.
Soft is generally used to depict the opposite of hard or loud, emphasizing comfort, smoothness, or quietness. It may describe physical properties like a soft fabric, indicating pliability and a pleasant feel, or non-physical attributes like a soft voice, representing calmness or gentleness in tone. It’s a multifaceted word providing a broad spectrum of interpretations based on context.
Conversely, delicate delineates something that is easily damaged, harmed, or disturbed, either physically or metaphorically. It portrays intricate details, like those in a delicate piece of lace or nuanced flavors in a delicate dish, requiring discernment or appreciation. It reflects sensitivity or refinement in construction, flavor, or approach.
In essence, while soft predominantly relates to the mildness or gentleness of texture, sound, or demeanor, delicate pertains more to the fragility, fineness, or subtlety of objects, flavors, feelings, or situations. Both words, though close in meaning, offer distinct perspectives and are applicable in varied contexts.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Yielding to touch or pressure.
Fragile and often needing careful handling.
Aspect
Texture or Sound
Fragility or Fineness
Usage
Describes comfort, smoothness, or quietness.
Reflects subtlety or vulnerability in essence.
Application
Physical and Non-Physical Attributes
Objects, Flavors, Feelings, or Situations
Opposite
Hard or Loud
Robust or Sturdy
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Soft and Delicate Definitions
Soft
Yielding readily to touch or pressure.
The soft mattress conformed to his body shape.
Delicate
Exquisitely fine or subtle in quality, structure, or kind.
The chef prepared a dish with a delicate balance of flavors.
Soft
Gentle or mild in demeanor.
His soft demeanor puts people at ease instantly.
Delicate
Light, fine, or frail in structure or form.
The delicate lace adorned the hem of her gown.
Soft
Not harsh or severe.
The teacher spoke in a soft and gentle manner to the child.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way
A delicate flavor.
A delicate violin passage.
Soft
Yielding readily to pressure or weight
A soft melon.
A soft pillow.
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged
A kite too delicate to fly.
Soft
Easily molded, cut, or worked
Soft wood.
Delicate
Exquisitely fine or dainty
Delicate china.
Soft
(Sports) Not tense and therefore capable of absorbing the impact of a ball or puck and of catching, receiving, or controlling it
A receiver with soft hands.
Delicate
Frail in constitution or health.
Soft
Out of condition; flabby
Got soft sitting at a desk all day.
Delicate
Marked by sensitivity of discrimination
A critic's delicate perception.
Soft
Smooth or fine to the touch
A soft fabric.
Soft fur.
Delicate
Very subtle in difference or distinction.
Soft
Not loud, harsh, or irritating
A soft voice.
Delicate
Having or showing great consideration or care
Delicate remarks concerning the scandal.
Soft
Not brilliant or glaring; subdued
Soft colors.
Delicate
Requiring careful or tactful treatment
A delicate situation.
Soft
Not sharply drawn or delineated
Soft charcoal shading.
A scene filmed in soft focus.
Delicate
Fine or soft in touch or skill
A surgeon's delicate touch.
Soft
Mild; balmy
A soft breeze.
Delicate
Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise
A delicate set of scales.
Soft
Tender or affectionate
A soft glance.
Delicate
Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
Those clothes are made from delicate lace.
The negotiations were very delicate.
Soft
Attracted or emotionally involved
He has been soft on her for years.
Delicate
Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.
Her face was delicate.
The spider wove a delicate web.
There was a delicate pattern of frost on the window.
Soft
Not stern; lenient
A coach who was soft on his players.
Delicate
Intended for use with fragile items.
Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle.
Soft
Lacking strength of character; weak
Too soft for the pressure of being a spy.
Delicate
Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.
Delicate behaviour
Delicate attentions
Delicate thoughtfulness
Soft
(Informal) Simple-minded or foolish
He's soft in the head.
Delicate
Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.
A delicate child
Delicate health
Soft
Not demanding or difficult; easy
A soft job.
Delicate
(informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.
Please don't speak so loudly: I'm feeling a bit delicate this morning.
Soft
Based on conciliation or compromise
Took a soft line toward their opponents.
Delicate
(obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
Soft
Gradually declining in trend; not firm
A soft economy.
A soft computer market.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.
A delicate dish
Delicate flavour
Soft
(Sports) Scored on a shot that the goalie should have blocked
A soft goal.
Delicate
Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.
Soft
Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts
Limited the discussion to soft topics.
Delicate
Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.
A delicate shade of blue
Soft
Using or based on data that is not readily quantifiable or amenable to experimental verification or refutation
The lawyer downplayed the soft evidence.
Delicate
Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
Soft
Softcore.
Delicate
Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.
A delicate taste
A delicate ear for music
Soft
Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle less acute than other possible routes
A soft right.
Delicate
Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.
A delicate thermometer
Soft
Of or relating to a paper currency as distinct from a hard currency backed by gold.
Delicate
A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.
Don't put that in with your jeans: it's a delicate!
Soft
Having low dissolved mineral content
Soft water.
Delicate
(obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.
Soft
Nonalcoholic.
Delicate
(obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
Soft
Nonaddictive or mildly addictive. Used of certain drugs.
Delicate
Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.
Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went.
Haarlem is a very delicate town.
Soft
Having a low or lower power of penetration
Soft x-rays.
Delicate
Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.
Soft
Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.
Delicate
Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature."
Soft
Voiced and weakly articulated
A soft consonant.
Delicate
Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; - said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.
Soft
Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.
Delicate
Slight or smooth; light and yielding; - said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.
Soft
Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack
A soft target.
Delicate
Soft and fair; - said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.
Soft
In a soft manner; gently.
Delicate
Light, or softly tinted; - said of a color; as, a delicate blue.
Soft
Easily yielding to pressure; easily impressed, molded, or cut; not firm in resisting; impressible; yielding; also, malleable; - opposed to hard; as, a soft bed; a soft peach; soft earth; soft wood or metal.
Delicate
Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; - said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.
Soft
Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.
They that wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
Delicate
Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; - said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.
A delicate and tender prince.
Soft
Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines.
Delicate
Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.
There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled rudely without injury to truth.
Soft
Not harsh or offensive to the sight; not glaring; pleasing to the eye; not exciting by intensity of color or violent contrast; as, soft hues or tints.
The sun, shining upon the upper part of the clouds . . . made the softest lights imaginable.
Delicate
Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
Soft
Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.
Her voice was ever soft,Gentle, and low, - an excellent thing in woman.
Soft were my numbers; who could take offense?
Delicate
Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.
Soft
Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.
I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward's;Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine.
The meek or soft shall inherit the earth.
Delicate
Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.
Soft
Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.
A soft answer turneth away wrath.
A face with gladness overspread,Soft smiles, by human kindness bred.
Delicate
A choice dainty; a delicacy.
With abstinence all delicates he sees.
Soft
Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.
A longing after sensual pleasures is a dissolution of the spirit of a man, and makes it loose, soft, and wandering.
Delicate
A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, - those I mean that would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, - are only of the Corinth metal.
Soft
Gentle in action or motion; easy.
On her soft axle, white she paces even,And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.
Delicate
Exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury;
A delicate violin passage
Delicate china
A delicate flavor
The delicate wing of a butterfly
Soft
Weak in character; impressible.
The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.
Delicate
Marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique;
A surgeon's delicate touch
Soft
Somewhat weak in intellect.
He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad.
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged or destroyed;
A kite too delicate to fly safely
Fragile porcelain plates
Fragile old bones
A frail craft
Soft
Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.
Delicate
Easily hurt;
Soft hands
A baby's delicate skin
Soft
Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.
Delicate
Developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety;
The satire touches with finespun ridicule every kind of human pretense
Soft
Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.
Delicate
Difficult to handle; requiring great tact;
Delicate negotiations with the big powers
Hesitates to be explicit on so ticklish a matter
Soft
Applied to a palatal, a sibilant, or a dental consonant (as g in gem, c in cent, etc.) as distinguished from a guttural mute (as g in go, c in cone, etc.); - opposed to hard.
Delicate
Of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely;
Almost undetectable with even the most delicate instruments
Soft
A soft or foolish person; an idiot.
Delicate
Easily broken or damaged; fragile.
The delicate porcelain vase requires careful handling.
Soft
Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.
A knight soft riding toward them.
Delicate
Requiring tactful treatment due to sensitivity.
The matter at hand is delicate and needs a thoughtful approach.
Soft
Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
Soft, you; a word or two before you go.
Delicate
Refined in perception, taste, manners, or beauty.
Her delicate taste is reflected in her elegant attire.
Soft
Lacking in hardness relatively or comparatively
Soft
Metaphorically soft;
My father is a soft touch
Soft light
A soft rain
A soft Southern drawl
Soft brown eyes
A soft glance
Soft
Of sound; relatively low in volume;
Soft voices
Soft music
Soft
Easily hurt;
Soft hands
A baby's delicate skin
Soft
Used chiefly as a direction or description in music;
The piano passages in the composition
Soft
Used of beverages; not containing alcohol;
Nonalcoholic beverages
Soft drinks
Soft
Of speech sounds; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as `s' and `sh')
Soft
Tolerant or lenient;
Indulgent parents risk spoiling their children
Procedures are lax and discipline is weak
Too soft on the children
Soft
Having little impact;
An easy pat on the shoulder
Gentle rain
A gentle breeze
A soft (or light) tapping at the window
Soft
Not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship;
What a cushy job!
A soft job
Soft
In a relaxed manner; or without hardship;
Just wanted to take it easy
Soft
Having a pleasingly low or subdued sound.
Her soft voice was barely audible in the crowded room.
Soft
Lacking in strength or force.
The soft light of the candle flickered in the breeze.
FAQs
Is delicate always about fragility?
Predominantly, but it also denotes subtlety in quality, flavor, or appearance.
Is soft the opposite of loud?
Yes, in terms of sound, soft is often used as the opposite of loud.
Is a soft voice low in volume?
Generally, a soft voice is subdued or low in volume and intensity.
Can something be both soft and delicate?
Yes, an item can be soft in texture and delicate, meaning fragile or subtle.
Does delicate imply a refined taste or perception?
Yes, it can denote refined taste, perception, or sensibility in various contexts.
Does soft always refer to texture?
No, soft can refer to sound, demeanor, light, and other non-textural qualities as well.
Does delicate always imply the need for careful handling?
Often, as delicate items or situations are typically fragile or sensitive.
Is softness related to comfort?
Frequently, soft textures and sounds are associated with comfort and pleasantness.
Can delicate refer to a situation or topic?
Yes, delicate can describe situations or topics requiring tact or sensitivity.
Can something be soft but not delicate?
Absolutely, items like a soft ball may be durable and not delicate.
Can delicate refer to food flavors?
Yes, delicate can describe subtle or refined flavors in cuisine.
Is a soft demeanor the same as a gentle demeanor?
Typically, yes, a soft demeanor usually implies gentleness or mildness.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
