Soft, a bit cute and bashful (5)
I believe the answer is:
cushy
'soft' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'cute and bashful' is the wordplay.
'cute' becomes 'cu' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'bashful' becomes 'shy' (I've seen this before).
'cu'+'shy'='CUSHY'
'a bit' acts as a link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cushy that I've seen before include "Undemanding, easy" , "Comfortable" , "Undemanding (slang)" , "Jammy" , "Easy, soft (colloq.)" .)