tenderness

noun

ten·​der·​ness ˈten-dər-nəs 

: a tender quality or condition: such as

a

: gentleness and affection

His voice quavered with tenderness.

—Joyce Carol Oates

b

: the quality of being succulent and easily chewed

How you carve the meat enhances the tenderness and juiciness of each portion.

—Kemp Minifie

c

: sensitivity to touch or palpation

They found a small increased risk of reactions such as redness, swelling, and/or tenderness at the injection site …

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

Synonyms of tenderness

• kindness

Examples of tenderness in a Sentence

volunteers at the shelter tended to all the animals in their care with great tenderness

Recent Examples on the Web

This recipe uses an Instant Pot to quickly cook the meat to juicy tenderness. —Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026

Having a husband who engaged with his kids with ferocious tenderness and playful delight was a gift. —Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026

Bite size pieces of rotisserie chicken add a tenderness to the dish. —Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026

As America reels from 9/11, something resonates within Franny and an unexpected tenderness begins to bloom. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tenderness

• slenderness