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

volunteers at the shelter tended to all the animals in their care with great tenderness
Recent Examples on the Web Abdominal Bloating, Pain, or Tenderness Abdominal bloating, pain, or tenderness can be a sign of metastatic breast cancer that has spread to the liver or the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneum. Julie Scott, Msn, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 Bad posture, repetitive motions, or even just one wrong move involving this part of the body can trigger tenderness, tension, and pain. Harri Weber, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2024 While the play is packed with humorous dialogue, there are also emotional moments of tenderness and pathos. Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 For the first time, there’s self-indulgence, tenderness. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tenderness 

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 12 Oct. 2024.

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