Soft vs. Rigid — What's the Difference?

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

Unable to bend or be forced out of shape; not flexible

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

Not able to be changed or adapted

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

A lorry which is not articulated.

(of a drink) not alcoholic.

Not flexible or pliant; stiff

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

Not moving or flexing

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

Not changing or adjusting to different conditions or problems

Foolish; silly

Scrupulously or severely maintained or performed; rigorous or harsh

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

Being an airship with a external frame made of rigid parts.

In a quiet or gentle way

Stiff, rather than flexible.

In a weak or foolish way

Fixed, rather than moving.

Yielding readily to pressure or weight

Rigorous and unbending.

Easily molded, cut, or worked

Uncompromising.

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

(aviation) An airship whose shape is maintained solely by an internal and/or external rigid structural framework, without using internal gas pressure to stiffen the vehicle (the lifting gas is at atmospheric pressure); typically also equipped with multiple redundant gasbags, unlike other types of airship.

Out of condition; flabby

A bicycle with no suspension system.

Smooth or fine to the touch

Firm; stiff; unyielding; not pliant; not flexible.

Not loud, harsh, or irritating

Hence, not lax or indulgent; severe; inflexible; strict; as, a rigid father or master; rigid discipline; rigid criticism; a rigid sentence.

Not brilliant or glaring; subdued

Incapable of or resistant to bending;

Not sharply drawn or delineated

Incapable of compromise or flexibility

Mild; balmy

Incapable of adapting or changing to meet circumstances;

Tender or affectionate

Fixed and unmoving;

Attracted or emotionally involved

Designating an airship or dirigible having a form maintained by a stiff unyielding frame or structure

Not stern; lenient

Lacking strength of character; weak

(Informal) Simple-minded or foolish

Not demanding or difficult; easy

Based on conciliation or compromise

Gradually declining in trend; not firm

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

Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts

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

Softcore.

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

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

Having low dissolved mineral content

Nonalcoholic.

Nonaddictive or mildly addictive. Used of certain drugs.

Having a low or lower power of penetration

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

Voiced and weakly articulated

Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.

Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack

In a soft manner; gently.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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;