tenderness

noun

ten·​der·​ness ˈten-dər-nəs How to pronounce tenderness (audio)
: 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

Examples of tenderness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Memories of Marcos Lugo’s tenderness, from baby to adult, remain vivid for Larriva, however. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 But Mino’s tenderness with Alex, combined with his confident, flirtatious edge, eventually won her over. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2024 Decrease in pregnancy symptoms Some people may also experience a decrease in pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness or breast tenderness, with a miscarriage, but keep in mind that a change in symptoms alone is not an indication of miscarriage. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024 In a late-night conversation with Wei’s mother, Shuo draws her out with an impressive off-the-cuff tenderness. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 This finesse allows tenderness to pour in and inspires supporting characters to emotionally blossom. EW.com, 18 Feb. 2024 Forgetting about the greens on a low back burner only deepens their tenderness and flavor. Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 17 Feb. 2024 Often described as a bittersweet emotion, nostalgia’s mix of tenderness and yearning for simpler times can have a complicated impact on an individual. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 As a craftswoman who draws her art from a source of tenderness, Jewel Williams is prioritizing the preservation of conditions that allowed for the output and clarity that facilitated this journey in the first place. Essence, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tenderness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenderness was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tenderness

Cite this Entry

“Tenderness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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