as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenderfoot
Smit-McPhee plays a hapless Scottish tenderfoot who teams with Fassbender's conflicted bounty hunter to track down his true love in the American West.
—
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderfoot
Noun
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Rent bikes and pedal a portion of the car-free Norwottuck Rail Trail, gentle enough for novice cyclists.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
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For seasoned cooks and kitchen novices, cookbook author and nutritionist Robin Miller takes it back to basics with great, family-friendly recipes worth making over and over again.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And one of the trends worth noting is the beginner-friendly crafts newbies are looking for when strolling around their local Michaels.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Sep. 2025
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The moon is one of the easiest and most satisfying targets for beginner and pro astrophotographers to capture.—
Harry Bennett,
Space.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The show, which focuses on teen witch apprentices who join forces to protect New Orleans from a dark force, will start shooting again in November.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
17 Sep. 2025
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Workplaces will start to prioritize giving workers apprentice-like experiences to train them, which will likely hit wages for those positions.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Contestants for 2025 include returning champion 128 Grazer and several newcomers.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Longtime series composer Akira Yamaoka returns, along with some series newcomers (Japanese composers xaki, dai, and Kensuke Inage), to put together one of the best scores in the series' history.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There's a learning curve to the NFL for every single rookie that comes in.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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In Sunday’s 40-37 win over the New York Giants, his impact was felt with 130 total yards, including a 30-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter that was attributed as his longest run since his rookie season in 2021.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The receiving corps is only getting stronger with the development of freshman Tanook Hines and the tight end room’s growing role.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
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Transfer Kaidon Slater started the opener against Georgia Tech; Slater, freshman Julian Lewis and redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub played against Delaware, with Staub looking best; then Staub struggled in last week’s loss to Houston.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenderfoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderfoot. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
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