Cushiony describes something that feels soft, padded, and comfortable to sit on, lie on, or sink into. A cushiony sofa has thick padding that gently supports you when you collapse onto it after a long day. A cushiony yoga mat protects your knees during exercise. Fresh snow can feel cushiony underfoot before it gets packed down and icy.

The word adds a playful, almost bouncy feeling to the idea of softness. While “soft” just means not hard, cushiony suggests something with real thickness and springiness that cushions you against impact. A thin piece of felt might be soft, but a pile of quilts is cushiony.

You'll sometimes see cushiony used figuratively too. Someone might describe a comfortable job with good benefits and little stress as cushiony, or talk about having a cushiony financial situation when they have plenty of savings to fall back on. In these cases, the word suggests both comfort and protection, like being wrapped in something that shields you from life’s harder edges.