Soft vs. Delicate

Yielding readily to pressure or weight

Pleasing to the senses, especially in a subtle way

Easily molded, cut, or worked

Easily broken or damaged

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

Exquisitely fine or dainty

Out of condition; flabby

Frail in constitution or health.

Smooth or fine to the touch

Marked by sensitivity of discrimination

Not loud, harsh, or irritating

Very subtle in difference or distinction.

Not brilliant or glaring; subdued

Having or showing great consideration or care

Not sharply drawn or delineated

Requiring careful or tactful treatment

Mild; balmy

Fine or soft in touch or skill

Tender or affectionate

Measuring, indicating, or responding to very small changes; precise

Attracted or emotionally involved

Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.

Not stern; lenient

Characterized by a fine structure or thin lines.

Lacking strength of character; weak

Intended for use with fragile items.

(Informal) Simple-minded or foolish

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; said of manners, conduct, or feelings.

Not demanding or difficult; easy

Of weak health; easily sick; unable to endure hardship.

Based on conciliation or compromise

(informal) Unwell, especially because of having drunk too much alcohol.

Gradually declining in trend; not firm

(obsolete) Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.

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

Pleasing to the senses; refined; adapted to please an elegant or cultivated taste.

Informal and entertaining without confronting difficult issues or hard facts

Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful.

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

Light, or softly tinted; said of a colour.

Softcore.

Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

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

Highly discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite.

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

Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes.

Having low dissolved mineral content

A delicate item of clothing, especially underwear or lingerie.

Nonalcoholic.

(obsolete) A choice dainty; a delicacy.

Nonaddictive or mildly addictive. Used of certain drugs.

(obsolete) A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

Having a low or lower power of penetration

Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring.

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

Pleasing to the senses; refinedly agreeable; hence, adapted to please a nice or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish; delicate flavor.

Voiced and weakly articulated

Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature."

Palatalized, as certain consonants in Slavic languages.

Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; - said of a thread, or the like; as, delicate cotton.

Unprotected against or vulnerable to attack

Slight or smooth; light and yielding; - said of texture; as, delicate lace or silk.

In a soft manner; gently.

Soft and fair; - said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate cheek; a delicate complexion.

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.

Light, or softly tinted; - said of a color; as, a delicate blue.

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

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; - said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

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

Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; - said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate health.

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.

Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.

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

Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.

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

Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical; sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.

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

Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate thermometer.

Effeminate; not courageous or manly, weak.

A choice dainty; a delicacy.

Gentle in action or motion; easy.

A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.

Weak in character; impressible.

Exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury;

Somewhat weak in intellect.

Marked by great skill especially in meticulous technique;

Quiet; undisturbed; paceful; as, soft slumbers.

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed;

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

Easily hurt;

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

Developed with extreme delicacy and subtlety;

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.

Difficult to handle; requiring great tact;

A soft or foolish person; an idiot.

Of an instrument or device; capable of registering minute differences or changes precisely;

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;