Synonyms of tender

tender 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten-dər 

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

• sensitive
• fragile
• delicate
• frail
• weak
• vulnerable
• soft
• brittle
• friable
• feeble
• breakable
• tenuous
• susceptible
• slight
• puny
• flimsy
• perishable
• frangible
• yielding
• crushable
• eggshell
• nonhardy
• unresistant
• resistless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tough
• strong
• substantial
• firm
• hard
• solid
• sound
• robust
• hardy
• resistant
• durable
• stiff
• sturdy
• rugged
• stout
• flinty
• hardened
• unbreakable
• tempered
• strengthened
• infrangible
• nonbreakable
• toughened
• inured

2

as in affectionate

feeling or showing love

a tender embrace between father and daughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

• affectionate
• loving
• adoring
• warm
• passionate
• devoted
• fond
• tenderhearted
• compassionate
• caring
• kind
• impassioned
• humane
• fervent
• friendly
• considerate
• forgiving
• romantic
• erotic
• warmhearted
• doting
• amorous
• understanding
• sentimental
• cordial
• ardent
• amatory
• mushy
• motherly
• fatherly
• brotherly
• infatuated
• lovesick
• sappy
• sisterly
• enamored
• lovey-dovey

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• distant
• indifferent
• aloof
• detached
• remote
• reserved
• cool
• unloving
• pitiless
• frosty
• unbending
• unfeeling
• offish
• standoffish
• uncaring
• antisocial
• cold
• unconcerned
• uninvolved
• disaffected
• hard-hearted
• callous
• frigid
• ruthless
• unfriendly
• unsentimental
• heartless
• cold-eyed
• unromantic
• soulless
• cold-blooded
• hard-boiled

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compassionate
• kind
• benevolent
• gentle
• sympathetic
• thoughtful
• humane
• kindly
• sweet
• gracious
• nice
• friendly
• generous
• kindhearted
• merciful
• beneficent
• benignant
• good
• tenderhearted
• warmhearted
• pleasant
• attentive
• warm
• good-hearted
• softhearted
• patient
• soft
• humanitarian
• mild
• considerate
• solicitous
• good-natured
• benign
• cordial
• companionable
• forbearing
• affable
• pitying
• comradely
• forgiving
• genial
• amicable
• noble
• neighborly
• lenient
• charitable
• tolerant
• brotherly
• magnanimous
• good-tempered
• liberal
• unselfish
• understanding
• selfless
• unsparing
• philanthropic
• munificent
• altruistic
• openhearted
• clement
• greathearted
• freehanded
• anticruelty
• cruelty-free

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cruel
• savage
• brutal
• callous
• vicious
• unkind
• heartless
• sadistic
• truculent
• unfeeling
• unsympathetic
• inhuman
• barbarous
• brute
• ruthless
• bestial
• barbaric
• insensate
• brutish
• merciless
• fiendish
• inhumane
• pitiless
• atrocious
• severe
• tough
• stern
• insensitive
• thoughtless
• hard-hearted
• harsh
• wanton
• unthinking
• cold-blooded
• grim
• unsentimental
• uncaring
• uncompassionate
• inconsiderate
• unkindly
• malignant
• malicious
• mean
• spiteful
• virulent
• hateful
• malevolent
• ironhearted
• stonyhearted
• nasty
• malign
• uncharitable
• heavy-handed
• hard-boiled
• antihumanitarian

4

as in weak

lacking bodily strength

a very tender child who always seems to be sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weak
• frail
• feeble
• weakened
• soft
• faint
• softened
• disabled
• delicate
• languid
• slight
• vulnerable
• infirm
• asthenic
• wimpy
• low
• tired
• unsubstantial
• injured
• debilitated
• enfeebled
• paralyzed
• prostrate
• fragile
• wasted
• exhausted
• effete
• incapacitated
• down-and-out
• weary
• wimpish
• enervated
• prostrated
• sapped
• drained
• invalid
• unsteady
• powerless
• susceptible
• damaged
• impotent
• decrepit
• hurt
• rocky
• breakable
• flimsy
• impaired
• woozy
• dizzy
• yielding
• groggy
• broken-down
• flagging
• unsound
• resistless
• unresistant
• worn-out
• harmed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strong
• powerful
• mighty
• muscular
• rugged
• sinewy
• stout
• athletic
• virile
• hard
• husky
• tough
• beefy
• stalwart
• robust
• hardy
• sturdy
• brawny
• lusty
• fit
• vigorous
• hardened
• able-bodied
• energetic
• healthy
• capable
• sound
• strengthened
• competent
• fortified
• strapping
• hale
• energized
• red-blooded
• toughened
• inured
• recovering
• vitalized
• invigorated
• convalescing
• recuperating

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gentle
• soothing
• soft
• mellow
• mild
• delicate
• light
• benign
• bland
• smooth
• quiet
• balmy
• serene
• calm
• compassionate
• peaceful
• easy
• tranquil
• merciful
• placid
• nonabrasive
• softening
• lenient
• pacific
• sleek
• slick
• clement
• emollient
• cushioning
• buffering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hard
• intense
• powerful
• rough
• stern
• coarse
• severe
• harsh
• caustic
• exquisite
• scathing
• fierce
• abrasive
• strong
• forceful
• violent
• savage
• ungentle
• forcible
• rugged
• stiff
• gruff
• irritating
• roughened
• grim
• rude
• pitiless
• oppressive
• tyrannical
• roughening
• abrading
• heavy-handed

tender

2 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cash
• money
• coin
• currency
• bucks
• dough
• gold
• needful
• funds
• legal tender
• chips
• green
• cabbage
• change
• kale
• scratch
• coinage
• long green
• lolly
• lucre
• pelf
• bread
• dollar
• wampum
• loot
• shekels
• moola
• wallet
• money order
• resources
• paper money
• specie
• jack
• promissory note
• scrip
• draft
• capital
• finances
• bill
• note
• folding money
• banknote
• mint
• peanuts
• bundle
• means
• pot
• roll
• treasure
• greenback
• pittance
• big bucks
• shoestring
• chump change
• earth
• pile
• dead presidents
• dime
• pin money
• wad
• petty cash
• mad money
• pocket money
• bomb
• check
• riches
• abundance
• mite
• bankroll
• wherewithal
• spending money
• boodle
• dibs
• wealth
• megabucks
• fortune
• packet
• opulence
• king's ransom
• cashier's check

tender

3 of 3

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• offer
• give
• extend
• run by
• proffer
• trot out
• submit
• propose
• pose
• hold out
• volunteer
• give in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• take
• accept
• approve
• authorize
• confirm
• clear
• warrant
• ratify
• sanction
• reject
• finalize
• deny
• refuse
• OK
• formalize
• turn down
• decline
• negative
• disallow
• disapprove
• withdraw
• veto
• accredit
• rebut
• approbate
• retract
• homologate
• ignore
• spurn
• disregard
• neglect
• rebuff
• overlook

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tender

Adjective

The smoke makes the meat incredibly tender, and then the flash fry turns the skin into glass. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Return eggplant to pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is completely tender and flavors have melded, about 2 minutes. — Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 July 2026

Noun

For those who make it to the test sites in Georgia, the tenders are seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers, freshly breaded and fried, and then served with a dipping sauce of your choice. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 July 2026

Toyota recently launched a $25 billion, tender-offer buyback that retires about 7% of outstanding shares, one of the largest repurchases in Japanese history. — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Verb

Mi Rancho has been making tortillas since 1939 and continues to use whole-kernel California corn, a commitment that shows in the tortillas’ fresh taste and consistently tender texture. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 July 2026

The Flyers tendered the five-year, $90-million offer sheet to Carlsson on Friday, which would require four of the Flyers’ first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation. — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Phrases Containing tender

• legal tender