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

Through digital archives, artistic reenactments, and deeply personal encounters, the film moves between tenderness and rage, transforming memory into an act of freedom. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

While the eye of the camera presents Cathy’s childhood as objective fact, Lee describes and then reframes his understanding of the past as an adult character in scenes Hoon Lee performs with astounding tenderness and pain. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Rage and tenderness are interwoven in pieces about mothers and daughters; the X’s with which Native leaders signed the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie; and the necessity and fragility of art. — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

The result retains the flavor Henprasert remembers while giving the ribs the tenderness many American diners expect. — Patricia Kaowthumrong, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tenderness

• slenderness