softshell

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noun

soft·​shell ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel How to pronounce softshell (audio)
: 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

Illustration of softshell

Illustration of softshell

soft-shell

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel How to pronounce soft-shell (audio)
variants or soft-shelled
ˈsȯf(t)-ˈsheld How to pronounce soft-shell (audio)
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs

Examples of softshell 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.
Noun
The broader range also includes softshell jackets and heated vests. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 Manila clams can serve as a food source for seabirds, crabs and other predators, potentially easing pressure on native shellfish such as softshell clams. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Adjective
One crab can eat more than 40 juvenile soft-shell clams in a day, while also destroying seagrass habitats. — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Owner and chef Stefania Marchesini, who fished professionally herself for 11 years, pays a premium to local fishermen, especially for soft-shell crabs known in the local dialect as moeche. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for softshell

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of softshell was in 1611

Rhymes for softshell

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Cite this Entry

“Softshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softshell. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

soft-shell

adjective
ˈsȯf(t)-ˌshel
variants or soft-shelled
-ˈsheld
: having a soft or fragile shell especially as a result of recent shedding
soft-shell crabs
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