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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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
Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Pets' paws are incredibly tender areas and can easily crack and bleed during harsh conditions.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t guarantee Badie will make the 2026 roster, but an initial tender makes sense.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
After whiffing on Schwarber, the team’s biggest move to date to help improve the offense has been the signing of 28-year-old outfielder JJ Bleday, who was non-tendered by the Athletics following a disappointing 2025 season.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
By repeatedly dropping the cookies while baking, the dough spreads and ripples, creating a cookie with far more texture on the outside, but still a soft, tender center.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2026
Pets' paws are incredibly tender areas and can easily crack and bleed during harsh conditions.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
February 19 – March 20 Certain people can’t be trusted with your tender core at this time.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t guarantee Badie will make the 2026 roster, but an initial tender makes sense.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
The deal comes nearly two months after non-tendering him a deal in salary arbitration.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
After whiffing on Schwarber, the team’s biggest move to date to help improve the offense has been the signing of 28-year-old outfielder JJ Bleday, who was non-tendered by the Athletics following a disappointing 2025 season.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
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Still, a few things are worth keeping in mind, especially if your teen is more sensitive, anxious, or likely to shut down under pressure.—
Dorian Johnson,
Parents,
1 Feb. 2026
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Infused with the same micro triple-lipid capsules—ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—that replenish the skin barrier on contact, it’s specifically formulated for dry, sensitive skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Tall, affectionate and funny, Charles moved through life demanding moral clarity, which could be intimidating, Savannah said.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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Not like Bruce, who is very warm and affectionate.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Mahan has described such policies as more compassionate than leaving people to suffer on the streets indefinitely, but advocates have accused him of criminalizing homelessness.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Aim to be mindful, compassionate, and respectful, Goldman says, and open the conversation in a kind, non-assuming way.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The palate leans on toffee, dark honey, orange peel, and a gentle rye spice that hangs around without dominating.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Briceno recommends cleaning your lips with a gentle, nondrying cleanser (his go-to is Purdori Natural Cleanser) to start.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize.—
Staff Reports,
The Providence Journal,
2 Feb. 2026
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The outside cash backing them likely represents the tip of the iceberg this year, observers said — especially in the first competitive Democratic governor’s race in over a decade where one candidate doesn’t promise to steamroll the competition’s spending with self-funding.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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February will bring both quarterly earnings reports and presentations at the annual CAGNY Conference, offering investors more opportunities to hear about food executives’ plans for their portfolios.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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Asked earlier on Thursday about a possible energy ceasefire, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov offered no clarification.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Deuterons assemble well after the 100 MeV fireball cools, explaining how fragile nuclei endure extreme conditions.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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In the latest violence rattling the fragile ceasefire, medics said two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis, in an area adjacent to where the army operates.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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