soft-spoken

adjective

soft-spo·​ken ˈsȯf(t)-ˈspō-kən How to pronounce soft-spoken (audio)
: having a mild or gentle voice
also : suave

Examples of soft-spoken in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ten straight hours of baking are edited into 90-second reels of prep work on Roll & Dough’s social pages, which Pierre, who is soft-spoken yet brutally honest, overlays with confessional voiceovers. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026 Bisegna, who is 17 and more soft-spoken, took a little persuading. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 13 July 2026 Several childhood friends of Salgado recalled that his father was kind and soft-spoken, always inquiring after a long workday about his wife’s day and how his sons’ friends were doing. — Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Malik Tillman is soft-spoken off the field with his interviews often given at a volume just above a whisper. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for soft-spoken

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soft-spoken was in 1616

Rhymes for soft-spoken

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Browse Nearby Words

soft sole
soft-spoken
soft spot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soft-spoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soft-spoken. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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