softly
In hushed tones
Softly means in a gentle, quiet, or subdued manner.
A door closes softly, music plays softly, someone speaks softly.
The word suggests restraint—less force, less volume, less intensity than normal: She softly touched his arm.
To tread softly is to proceed carefully, avoiding disturbance.
Softly, softly describes a cautious, gradual approach.
In a mild manner
- tenderlyWith gentle care
- carefullyWith deliberate attention
- kindlyWarmly, with goodwill
- lovinglyWith deep affection
compassionately · warmly · affectionately · sweetly · mildly · meekly · calmly · peacefully
Speech without full voice
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
- hushAbsence of sound
- quietLacking in sound
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
undertone · sotto voce · sigh · breathe · hum · lullaby · susurration · muted
gently
In a mild manner
lovingly · compassionately · warmly · affectionately · sweetly · mildly · meekly · calmly · peacefully · soothingly
whisper
Speech without full voice
pianissimo · undertone · sotto voce · sigh · breathe · hum · lullaby · susurration · muted · hushed
dimly
With weak illumination
muted · subdued · pale · luminous · filtered · hazy · twilight · candlelit · ambient · shimmering
caress
Gentle loving touch
feather · petal · velvet · silk · tender · delicate · light · gentle · fondle · glide
- -LY wordsloudly, quickly, slowly, happily, sadly
- musical adverbsloudly, slowly, quickly, gently, lively
- sound adverbsloudly, quietly, silently, noisily, audibly
- cautiouslycarefully, warily, gingerly, guardedly, prudently
- hush commandsshh, shhh, ssh, hush up, be silent
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- soft drinksCarbonated nonalcoholic beverages
- soft spotEmotional vulnerability or fondness
- soft targetUndefended vulnerable site
- soft serveAerated frozen dairy dessert
- soft fruitEasily bruised produce
- soften the blowReduce harshness of bad news
soft, soften, softness, softening, softer, softens, softest, softie, softener