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

Their chemistry grounds every emotional turn of the film, balancing comedy, heartbreak, and tenderness with confidence and precision. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 June 2026

This includes pain and tenderness on the inner side of your elbow and stiffness of your elbow. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Each image is accompanied by a brief description of Saada’s perspective of the couple’s story, meant to reflect the tenderness, vulnerability and accessional absurdity that accompanies love. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 June 2026

There’s tenderness in the story’s example that masculinity and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tenderness

• slenderness