soft skills
plural noun
: general abilities (such as communication, critical thinking, and adaptability) that rely on qualitative experiences and intuitive learning rather than technical expertise
Perhaps preschool's biggest contribution to students' future success comes in the form of so-called soft skills like learning how to pay attention and stay on task.—
Kayla Webley
Kayla Webley
especially : interpersonal skills
Being able to talk to folks and use soft skills like listening to what the customer is asking for can make all the difference. —Ryan Kelly
Ryan Kelly
Most CIOs spend a significant amount of time honing their IT abilities and staying up to date on the latest technologies and trends. Relatively few IT leaders, however, dedicate themselves to refining their soft skills in such critical areas as leadership, collaboration, and team building. —John Edwards
John Edwards
Examples of soft skills in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because the same soft skills needed to maintain a relationship are just as vital in the workplace. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
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.
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Soft skills.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/soft%20skills. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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