softball vs ball

softball and ball both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
softball	Yes	No	No	No
ball	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, ball is a hypernym of softball; that is, ball is a word with a broader meaning than softball:

softball: a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger
ball: a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

Other hypernyms of softball include baseball, baseball game.

As nouns, ball is a hypernym of softball; that is, ball is a word with a broader meaning than softball:

softball (noun)	ball (noun)
a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger	a pitch that is not in the strike zone
ball used in playing softball	a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs
	round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
	a spherical object used as a plaything
	a solid projectile that is shot by a musket
	a more or less rounded anatomical body or mass
	one of the two male reproductive glands that produce spermatozoa and secrete androgens
	a lavish dance requiring formal attire
	a compact mass
	an object with a spherical shape

softball (verb)	ball (verb)
	form into a ball by winding or rolling
	to live very well