softy

or soft·ie

[ sawf-tee, sof- ]

/ ˈsɔf ti, ˈsɒf- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR softy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural soft·ies. Informal.

a person easily stirred to sentiment or tender emotion.

a person who lacks stamina or endurance.

a person who lacks strength of character; a silly or foolish person.

Nearby words

Origin of softy

First recorded in 1860–65; soft + -y²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for softy

Mr. Conyers threw away the stump of his cigar and stared superciliously at the "Softy."
Aurora Floyd, Vol. II (of 3)|M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon
Some of his shipmates, moreover, were not slow to take advantage of his ignorance as a 'softy' to amuse themselves at his expense.
Pincher Martin, O.D.|H. Taprell Dorling
It's wot you'd hev knowed ef he and Roop Filgee hadn't played ye fer a softy all the time.
Cressy|Bret Harte
The heap of money made a deep impression in the softy downy bed.
The Fat and the Thin|Emile Zola

He tumbled over the "Softy," still sitting on the step of the open door, and then cursed Mr. Hargraves for being in the way.
Aurora Floyd, Vol. II (of 3)|M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

Word Origin and History for softy

softy

also softie, 1863, "silly person," from soft (adj.) + -y (3). Meaning "soft-hearted person" is from 1886; that of "weak, unmanly or effeminate man" is from 1895. The Mister Softee soft ice-cream operation began in Philadelphia, U.S., in 1956.

softy

or soft·ie

noun, plural soft·ies. Informal.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of softy

Examples from the Web for softy

softy