soft power

British

noun

the ability to achieve one's goals without force, esp by diplomacy, persuasion, etc Compare hard power

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Sound judgement is to deploy that asset, that soft power, at the right time," the King's close friend told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

It projected American generosity and soft power in ways that built lasting alliances far more efficiently than could ever be achieved militarily.

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

It was also deployed in diplomacy, as a symbol of Denmark’s soft power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

VOA was created in the wake of World War II as a key instrument of American soft power worldwide.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

With my soft power, I was finding I could be strong.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023