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Hard vs. Soft — What's the Difference?

Hard vs. Soft — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hard and Soft

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Hard

Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
The slate broke on the hard floor
Rub the varnish down when it's hard

Soft

Easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch
The ground was soft beneath their feet
Soft margarine

Hard

Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack

Soft

Having a pleasing quality involving a subtle effect or contrast rather than sharp definition
The moon's pale light cast soft shadows
The soft glow of the lamps

Hard

Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort
Airship-flying was pretty hard work
She found it hard to believe that he could be involved
It's hard for drummers these days
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Soft

Sympathetic, lenient, or compassionate, especially to a degree perceived as excessive; not strict or sufficiently strict
Julia's soft heart was touched by his grief
The government is not becoming soft on crime

Hard

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

Soft

(of a drink) not alcoholic.

Hard

Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.

Soft

(of a market, currency, or commodity) falling or likely to fall in value
Now a new factor looms: soft oil prices
The rouble, so soft that it buys nothing worth having

Hard

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult
Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

Soft

(of water) containing relatively low concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts and therefore lathering easily with soap
You use only half as much soap when you clean with soft water

Hard

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.

Soft

Foolish; silly
He must be going soft in the head

Hard

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

Soft

(of a consonant) pronounced as a fricative (as c in ice).

Hard

With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school

Soft

In a quiet or gentle way
I can just speak soft and she'll hear me

Hard

So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard

Soft

In a weak or foolish way
Don't talk soft

Hard

To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard

Soft

Yielding readily to pressure or weight
A soft melon.
A soft pillow.

Hard

A road leading down across a foreshore.

Soft

Easily molded, cut, or worked
Soft wood.

Hard

Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.

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.

Hard

Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.

Soft

Out of condition; flabby
Got soft sitting at a desk all day.

Hard

Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.

Soft

Smooth or fine to the touch
A soft fabric.
Soft fur.

Hard

Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.

Soft

Not loud, harsh, or irritating
A soft voice.

Hard

Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.

Soft

Not brilliant or glaring; subdued
Soft colors.

Hard

Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.

Soft

Not sharply drawn or delineated
Soft charcoal shading.
A scene filmed in soft focus.

Hard

Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.

Soft

Mild; balmy
A soft breeze.

Hard

Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.

Soft

Tender or affectionate
A soft glance.

Hard

Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.

Soft

Attracted or emotionally involved
He has been soft on her for years.

Hard

Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.

Soft

Not stern; lenient
A coach who was soft on his players.

Hard

Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.

Soft

Lacking strength of character; weak
Too soft for the pressure of being a spy.

Hard

Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.

Soft

(Informal) Simple-minded or foolish
He's soft in the head.

Hard

Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.

Soft

Not demanding or difficult; easy
A soft job.

Hard

Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.

Soft

Based on conciliation or compromise
Took a soft line toward their opponents.

Hard

Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.

Soft

Gradually declining in trend; not firm
A soft economy.
A soft computer market.

Hard

Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.

Soft

(Sports) Scored on a shot that the goalie should have blocked
A soft goal.

Hard

Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.

Soft

Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts
Limited the discussion to soft topics.

Hard

Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.

Soft

Using or based on data that is not readily quantifiable or amenable to experimental verification or refutation
The lawyer downplayed the soft evidence.

Hard

Bad; adverse
Hard luck.

Soft

Softcore.

Hard

Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.

Soft

Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle less acute than other possible routes
A soft right.

Hard

Definite; firm
A hard commitment.

Soft

Of or relating to a paper currency as distinct from a hard currency backed by gold.

Hard

Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.

Soft

Having low dissolved mineral content
Soft water.

Hard

Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.

Soft

Nonalcoholic.

Hard

Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.

Soft

Nonaddictive or mildly addictive. Used of certain drugs.

Hard

Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.

Soft

Having a low or lower power of penetration
Soft x-rays.

Hard

Hardcore.

Soft

Sibilant rather than guttural, as c in certain and g in gem.

Hard

Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.

Soft

Voiced and weakly articulated
A soft consonant.

Hard

Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.

Soft

Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.

Hard

Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.

Soft

Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack
A soft target.

Hard

High and stable. Used of prices.

Soft

In a soft manner; gently.

Hard

Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.

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.

Hard

Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.

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.

Hard

Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.

Soft

Hence, agreeable to feel, taste, or inhale; not irritating to the tissues; as, a soft liniment; soft wines.

Hard

Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.

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.

Hard

Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.

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?

Hard

Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.

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.

Hard

(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.

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.

Hard

(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.

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.

Hard

High in gluten content
Hard wheat.

Soft

Gentle in action or motion; easy.
On her soft axle, white she paces even,And bears thee soft with the smooth air along.

Hard

(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.

Soft

Weak in character; impressible.
The deceiver soon found this soft place of Adam's.

Hard

Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.

Soft

Somewhat weak in intellect.
He made soft fellows stark noddies, and such as were foolish quite mad.

Hard

With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.

Soft

Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

Hard

With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.

Soft

Having, or consisting of, a gentle curve or curves; not angular or abrupt; as, soft outlines.

Hard

In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.

Soft

Not tinged with mineral salts; adapted to decompose soap; as, soft water is the best for washing.

Hard

With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.

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.

Hard

Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.

Soft

A soft or foolish person; an idiot.

Hard

Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.

Soft

Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.
A knight soft riding toward them.

Hard

Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.

Soft

Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.
Soft, you; a word or two before you go.

Hard

(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.

Soft

Lacking in hardness relatively or comparatively

Hard

(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Soft

Metaphorically soft;
My father is a soft touch
Soft light
A soft rain
A soft Southern drawl
Soft brown eyes
A soft glance

Hard

Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.

Soft

Of sound; relatively low in volume;
Soft voices
Soft music

Hard

(of drink or drugs) Strong.

Soft

Easily hurt;
Soft hands
A baby's delicate skin

Hard

(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda

Soft

Used chiefly as a direction or description in music;
The piano passages in the composition

Hard

(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.

Soft

Used of beverages; not containing alcohol;
Nonalcoholic beverages
Soft drinks

Hard

Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).

Soft

Of speech sounds; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as `s' and `sh')

Hard

Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays

Soft

Tolerant or lenient;
Indulgent parents risk spoiling their children
Procedures are lax and discipline is weak
Too soft on the children

Hard

Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.

Soft

Having little impact;
An easy pat on the shoulder
Gentle rain
A gentle breeze
A soft (or light) tapping at the window

Hard

(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Soft

Not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship;
What a cushy job!
A soft job

Hard

Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic

Soft

In a relaxed manner; or without hardship;
Just wanted to take it easy

Hard

Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life

Hard

Severe, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
A hard master;
A hard heart;
Hard words;
A hard character
The senator asked the party chief to put the hard word on his potential rivals.

Hard

(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.

Hard

(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site

Hard

(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.

Hard

Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement

Hard

(of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.

Hard

Sexually aroused; having an erect penis.
I got so hard watching two hot girls wrestle each other on the beach.

Hard

(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.

Hard

Fortis.

Hard

Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".

Hard

Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.

Hard

(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.

Hard

(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Hard

Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.

Hard

(uncomparable)

Hard

In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive

Hard

Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset

Hard

(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left

Hard

Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.

Hard

(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.

Hard

(manner) With much force or effort.
He hit the puck hard up the ice.
They worked hard all week.
At the intersection, bear hard left.
The recession hit them especially hard.
Think hard about your choices.
The couple were fucking each other hard.

Hard

(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.

Hard

(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.

Hard

Near, close.

Hard

A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.

Hard

A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.

Hard

Crack cocaine.

Hard

Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.

Hard

Not easily penetrated, cut, or separated into parts; not yielding to pressure; firm; solid; compact; - applied to material bodies, and opposed to soft; as, hard wood; hard flesh; a hard apple.

Hard

Difficult, mentally or judicially; not easily apprehended, decided, or resolved; as a hard problem.
The hard causes they brought unto Moses.
In which are some things hard to be understood.

Hard

Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.

Hard

Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.

Hard

Difficult to bear or endure; not easy to put up with or consent to; hence, severe; rigorous; oppressive; distressing; unjust; grasping; as, a hard lot; hard times; hard fare; a hard winter; hard conditions or terms.
I never could drive a hard bargain.

Hard

Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.

Hard

Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.

Hard

Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.

Hard

Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated, or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to another; - said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.

Hard

Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Hard

With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.

Hard

With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.

Hard

Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.

Hard

So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

With tension or strain of the powers; violently; with force; tempestuously; vehemently; vigorously; energetically; as, to press, to blow, to rain hard; hence, rapidly; nimbly; as, to run hard.

Hard

Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Hard

To harden; to make hard.

Hard

A ford or passage across a river or swamp.

Hard

Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?

Hard

Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb

Hard

Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock

Hard

Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow

Hard

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace

Hard

Of speech sounds

Hard

Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker

Hard

Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider

Hard

Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor

Hard

Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break

Hard

Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before

Hard

With effort or force or vigor;
The team played hard
Worked hard all day
Pressed hard on the lever
Hit the ball hard
Slammed the door hard

Hard

With firmness;
Held hard to the railing

Hard

Earnestly or intently;
Thought hard about it
Stared hard at the accused

Hard

Causing great damage or hardship;
Industries hit hard by the depression
She was severely affected by the bank's failure

Hard

Slowly and with difficulty;
Prejudices die hard

Hard

Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily

Hard

Into a solid condition;
Concrete that sets hard within a few hours

Hard

Very near or close in space or time;
It stands hard by the railroad tracks
They were hard on his heels
A strike followed hard upon the plant's opening

Hard

With pain or distress or bitterness;
He took the rejection very hard

Hard

To the full extent possible; all the way;
Hard alee
The ship went hard astern
Swung the wheel hard left

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