1
as in sensitive
easily injured without careful handling
a tender wound tender plants that cannot take the cold tender pride that got bruised when his girlfriend dumped him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in affectionate
feeling or showing love
a tender embrace between father and daughter
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3
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
an especially tender teacher who loves having kids with special educational needs in her class
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4
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
a very tender child who always seems to be sick
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5
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect
his tender comments on how to improve her writing style were gratefully received
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as in cash
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment
money from that board game is not legal tender and can't be exchanged for goods or services
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as in to offer
to put before another for acceptance or consideration
the coach tendered his resignation and started a new career as a physical therapist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tender
Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Cover and simmer on very low heat until mostly tender and the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
Because the Chiefs offered a one-year tender, Araiza couldn’t negotiate with other teams.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
The sauce was bright and citrusy, clinging to tender pieces of chicken with just the right balance of sweet and tangy.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
Queen Margrethe’s pet has starred in some of the most tender moments, receiving the caresses of both her and Queen Mary.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Cover and simmer on very low heat until mostly tender and the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
—Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Noun
Chase, Harada, Ivan Hernandez (as the town Doc with all the bedside manner of Captain Von Trapp), Brad Oscar as closeted Mayor Menlove whose penchant for outfits as fanciful as any thing from Munchkinland is matched only by his tender longing for that shy town reverend (Maulik Pancholy).
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026
Because the Chiefs offered a one-year tender, Araiza couldn’t negotiate with other teams.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Wondering how to pan-fry pork chops and keep them tender?
—Wini Moranville, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2026
The sauce was bright and citrusy, clinging to tender pieces of chicken with just the right balance of sweet and tangy.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
This was essentially a copy of the main laser beam, used as a sensitive probe to detect tiny fluctuations that the main system couldn’t easily see.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Berries, leafy greens, and other fresh fruits and vegetables are also particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Paul, who co-created the Apple TV+ series and drew from season one for the musical’s script and score, performs a dexterous trick, poking fun at the form’s many ridiculous tropes with an unmistakably affectionate hand.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
-
All the films are affectionate, most are light-hearted and often comical.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With a team of neonatologists, specialized NICU nurses, and support staff, the NICU offers around-the-clock care, advanced medical technology, and a compassionate environment, giving families peace of mind.—
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The family of a West Chester University student killed in a weekend crash is remembering him as a compassionate young man who always put others first.—
Madeleine Wright,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Small hail is possible, and an isolated weak/brief tornado can't be ruled out.—
Mary Ours,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager with California Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, said in an email Friday that heavy reliance on outside vendors can increase the risk of fraud or mismanagement if oversight is weak.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s made with glycerin and amino acids and acts as a very gentle cleanser.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The pounding dembow riddims boldly crash into electro pop, rock, and trap, interspersed with gentle waves crashing and lyrics about lovers who never pulled up.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The victim, Adbadalla Thabet, collected cash from gas stations in Downey, Bellflower, Compton and Lynwood early in the morning before driving to the bank.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The short-term spending cuts proposed to date are simply not enough to balance the budget anymore — not even with a one-time cash infusion from Albany.—
Ike Brannon,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Although the crew is still experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, Koch said one silver lining is their ability to sleep in any time zone that offers some shut-eye.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
-
General manager Ohemaa Nyanin didn’t offer much to bridge that gap, sidestepping the why behind the move in the moments after the draft and leaving the room to sit in the tension of it all.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After delivery, if a baby needs to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), The Women’s Hospital is fully equipped to care for premature and medically fragile infants in our 24/7 dedicated, on-site level III Irma Feldcamp NICU.—
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Israel's continued attacks in Lebanon have posed an ongoing threat to the fragile truce, with Israel disputing that the agreement extended to its operations against Hezbollah.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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