Illustration of softshell
soft·shell
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel 
: any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates
called also soft-shelled turtle
variants
or soft-shelled
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
Examples of softshell in a Sentence
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Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
The body of the coat is insulated for additional warmth, while the breezier softshell sleeves offer a good temperature balance to keep you comfortable regardless of the weather.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2025
Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2025
Back home soft-shell crabs are literally on the roadside at shacks that sell seafood.
—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
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Noun
After extensive market research, only one answer made sense: consumers had suddenly become more savvy about the quality of softshell jackets.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
The body of the coat is insulated for additional warmth, while the breezier softshell sleeves offer a good temperature balance to keep you comfortable regardless of the weather.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Delicious dishes will include fresh soft-shell crab, stuffed zucchini blossoms and bluefin tuna.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 May 2025
Back home soft-shell crabs are literally on the roadside at shacks that sell seafood.
—Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for softshell
Cite this Entry
“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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