Quiet vs. Soft — What's the Difference?

Making little or no noise

Easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch

Carried out discreetly, secretly, or with moderation

Having a pleasing quality involving a subtle effect or contrast rather than sharp definition

Absence of noise or bustle; silence; calm

Sympathetic, lenient, or compassionate, especially to a degree perceived as excessive; not strict or sufficiently strict

Make or become silent, calm, or still

(of a drink) not alcoholic.

Making or characterized by little or no noise

(of a market, currency, or commodity) falling or likely to fall in value

Free of turmoil and agitation; calm

(of water) containing relatively low concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts and therefore lathering easily with soap

Providing or allowing relaxation; restful; soothing

Foolish; silly

Not showy or bright; subdued

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

Restrained, as in style; understated

In a quiet or gentle way

Out of public scrutiny; known or discussed by few

In a weak or foolish way

The quality or condition of being quiet

Yielding readily to pressure or weight

To cause to become quiet

Easily molded, cut, or worked

To make (a title) secure by freeing from uncertainties or adverse claims as to the ownership.

(Sports) Not tense and therefore capable of absorbing the impact of a ball or puck and of catching, receiving, or controlling it

To become quiet

Out of condition; flabby

With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.

Smooth or fine to the touch

Having little motion or activity; calm.

Not loud, harsh, or irritating

Not busy, of low quantity.

Not brilliant or glaring; subdued

Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.

Not sharply drawn or delineated

Not showy; undemonstrative.

Mild; balmy

(software) Requiring little or no interaction.

Tender or affectionate

(transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.

Attracted or emotionally involved

(intransitive) To become quiet or calm.

Not stern; lenient

The absence of sound; quietness.

Lacking strength of character; weak

The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.

(Informal) Simple-minded or foolish

The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.

Not demanding or difficult; easy

Be quiet.

Based on conciliation or compromise

In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still; as, a quiet sea; quiet air.

Gradually declining in trend; not firm

Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.

(Sports) Scored on a shot that the goalie should have blocked

Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled; as, a quiet life; a quiet conscience.

Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts

Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented.

Using or based on data that is not readily quantifiable or amenable to experimental verification or refutation

Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative; as, a quiet dress; quiet colors; a quiet movement.

Softcore.

The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.

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

Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security.

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

To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.

Having low dissolved mineral content

To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief.

Nonalcoholic.

To become still, silent, or calm; - often with down; as, be soon quieted down.

Nonaddictive or mildly addictive. Used of certain drugs.

A period of calm weather;

Having a low or lower power of penetration

An untroubled state; free from disturbances

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

The absence of sound;

Voiced and weakly articulated

A disposition free from stress or emotion

Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.

Become quiet or quieter;

Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack

Make calm or still;

In a soft manner; gently.

Characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity;

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.

Free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound;

Not rough, rugged, or harsh to the touch; smooth; delicate; fine; as, soft silk; a soft skin.

Not showy or obtrusive;

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

In a softened tone;

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.

Without untoward incident or disruption;

Not harsh or rough in sound; gentle and pleasing to the ear; flowing; as, soft whispers of music.

Free from disturbance;

Easily yielding; susceptible to influence; flexible; gentle; kind.

Of the sun; characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sun spots e.g.

Expressing gentleness, tenderness, or the like; mild; conciliatory; courteous; kind; as, soft eyes.

With little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet' is a nonstandard variant for `quietly');

Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.

Gentle in action or motion; easy.

Weak in character; impressible.

Somewhat weak in intellect.

Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

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

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

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.

A soft or foolish person; an idiot.

Softly; without roughness or harshness; gently; quietly.

Be quiet; hold; stop; not so fast.

Lacking in hardness relatively or comparatively

Metaphorically soft;

Of sound; relatively low in volume;

Easily hurt;

Used chiefly as a direction or description in music;

Used of beverages; not containing alcohol;

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

Tolerant or lenient;

Having little impact;

Not burdensome or demanding; borne or done easily and without hardship;

In a relaxed manner; or without hardship;