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
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tender
Cathy Thomas, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
The relationship between writer and editor is fractious, tender, and ever-changing, with resentments and gratitude sloshing back and forth like a rooftop pool during an earthquake.
—Isle McElroy, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 May 2025
Temo sought to give boaters a portable, easy-to-handle means of bringing clean, quiet electric propulsion to small vessels like tenders, rowboats and dinghies.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025
What To Know Japanese minesweeper tender JS Bungo and minesweeper JS Etajima arrived at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia's southwestern province of Sihanoukville on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand on Saturday.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
Add mushrooms and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender and light golden, about 4 minutes.
—Cathy Thomas, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
The relationship between writer and editor is fractious, tender, and ever-changing, with resentments and gratitude sloshing back and forth like a rooftop pool during an earthquake.
—Isle McElroy, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Noun
Nichols’ tender twang elevates the song’s storyline and furthers her reputation as both a gifted songcrafter and country vocalist with a penchant for stick-in-your-head lyrics that uniquely put forth a song’s message.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 May 2025
Temo sought to give boaters a portable, easy-to-handle means of bringing clean, quiet electric propulsion to small vessels like tenders, rowboats and dinghies.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Verb
The beans should be well-cooked: tender with a little resistance, not mushy or tough.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025
What To Know Japanese minesweeper tender JS Bungo and minesweeper JS Etajima arrived at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia's southwestern province of Sihanoukville on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand on Saturday.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
Tian also allegedly sent additional sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2025
-
Other lawsuits have focused on one area DOGE has seen great success in: amassing sensitive government data and combining it into massive databases.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
While being affectionate around adults and children, the breed will stand up to threats from strangers.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
-
Everyone will want to have fun and will feel relaxed and affectionate.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Seek out people who are compassionate and who have your back.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 June 2025
-
That’s why taking a holistic, compassionate approach to dealing with these issues is crucial.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
These weaker strains of the disease eventually sputtered out and went extinct.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
-
Global Blue's weak February European shopper data released on March 5 did indeed work as a catalyst.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
Bruce Banner / Hulk Though he’s known for quick temper, this gentle green giant, clad in bright purple pants, has dedicated to using his super strength to help Spidey and his friends as a friend, not a foe.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
30 May 2025
-
The two-piece gown featured a sculpted bodice with a gentle curve at the neckline and a drop waist that nodded to early 2000s silhouettes.—
Karissa Mitchell,
Essence,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The 73-year-old victim was on the phone with the scammer, who was walking her through the step-by-step process to deposit the cash.—
Hailey Clevenger,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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Arrive early, bring cash and a cart, dress for the heat, and don’t skip any rows—treasures can turn up anywhere.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Remember, a tent offers no protection from lighting.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 June 2025
-
State jobs are known for offering competitive benefits and enrollment in the nation’s largest pension plan.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Oyun-Erdene warned before the confidence vote that a change in government could threaten Mongolia’s fragile democracy, which only started in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 June 2025
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By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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