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

Anchored by the tenderness of Comer’s performance (the actress’ movie star glamour futilely undermined by a godforsaken pageboy cut), Sister Brigid offers herself as proof that old wounds can be tended into blooming gardens of love, and Robin is thus inspired to rewrite his own legend. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 June 2026

A little tenderness goes farther than strategy today. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

That kindness, tenderness and childlike wonder and joy is not weakness, but power. —Cynthia Pelayo, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

General Daily Insight for June 08, 2026 A little tenderness goes farther than strategy today. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tenderness

• slenderness