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
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Relevance
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tender
Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
This side of deeply roasted, tender sweet potatoes comes quartered and seasoned with GK’s take on togarashi.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Stir corn, okra, apple cider vinegar, and sugar into Dutch oven; cook until tender and burgoo is reduced just slightly more, about 30 minutes.
—Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Grove was non-tendered by the Dodgers last fall and is recovering from shoulder surgery.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
Napa cabbage is more tender and milder than other cabbage varieties.
—Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
This side of deeply roasted, tender sweet potatoes comes quartered and seasoned with GK’s take on togarashi.
—Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Add onion and celery; cook until tender, stirring occasionally.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026
Stir corn, okra, apple cider vinegar, and sugar into Dutch oven; cook until tender and burgoo is reduced just slightly more, about 30 minutes.
—Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
The key to making these muffins tender and keeping them from drying out is simply liquid — in all different forms.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Grove was non-tendered by the Dodgers last fall and is recovering from shoulder surgery.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
That's because the edges of your vision are more sensitive to light.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
Dick and Tweety became a formidable team in running Camp Mystic – he the unquestioned leader who oversaw all operations and she the sensitive surrogate mother for campers.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
The piece is affectionate, admiring, and shamelessly tilted in his favor.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Breed experts say goldendoodles are among the most social and affectionate dog breeds available.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Addressing it requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Contemporary, timeless, and deeply intimate in its candor, Scenes From The Divide honored all viewpoints about Mamdani’s potential impact on the Jewish community by anchoring the title in a thoughtful, compassionate lead seeking understanding from voters.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, the rest of the NBA is widely expected to be more competitive next season — from the bottom tier, where anti-tanking regulations and a weaker draft class should curb teams’ intentional losing, to the upper echelons, where Oklahoma City and San Antonio stand tall.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
Conditions change quickly, signals conflict with each other, and weak assumptions tend to get exposed without much delay.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Aub says that in general, curly hair does best with gentle, hydrating formulas that can both cleanse the scalp without sacrificing the integrity of the curl pattern.—
Aimee Simeon,
Glamour,
7 May 2026
-
Love on the Spectrum — gentle, warm, built on sincerity rather than spectacle — represents an evolution within the genre.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
During the pandemic, the Fed launched massive bond-buying programs, cut rates to zero, and promised to keep them there, flooding the economy with cash and stoking inflation.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
The airline ran out of cash, failed to secure a $500 million federal bailout, and felt the pressure of surging fuel prices.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Tim offers phone coaching calls if you get stuck during a DIY job.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Specifically, Congress put protections in place to ensure that covered programs offer legally qualified candidates for office (both Republican and Democrat) equal time on the public airwaves.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
American frontier labs hold the lead on models, chips, and lithography — but the report finds near-unanimous conviction among leaders that this advantage is fragile.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
-
Although the population size seems to be stable, threats from climate change — rising ocean levels surrounding small islands — and from the ongoing loss of their habitat to human development will take a toll on their already fragile island worlds over the coming decades.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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