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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Dupuy-Spencer moved freely between unflinching images of protests and tender pictures of intimacy.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
How to Cook Filet Mignon in a Skillet Cooking filet mignon in a cast-iron skillet is a great way to ensure your meat is extra tender and flavorful.
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
Working in batches if necessary, fry eggplant slices, rotating for even browning and turning once halfway through, until golden on both sides and tender throughout, about 5 minutes; lower heat if oil begins to smoke.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
At 6 feet 5 inches tall, Elordi towers over the other actors and gives a surprisingly tender performance of a creature capable of destruction, who really just wants to be loved by the man who made him.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
Dupuy-Spencer moved freely between unflinching images of protests and tender pictures of intimacy.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
Agnes, the tender, bristling English associate about which this film spins, does have the wardrobe and wit of my favorite adjuncts.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
How to Cook Filet Mignon in a Skillet Cooking filet mignon in a cast-iron skillet is a great way to ensure your meat is extra tender and flavorful.
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Their shock-absorbing outsoles also distribute weight evenly, which in turn minimizes impact to tender or sensitive areas like your heel or the ball of your foot.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
Working in batches if necessary, fry eggplant slices, rotating for even browning and turning once halfway through, until golden on both sides and tender throughout, about 5 minutes; lower heat if oil begins to smoke.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
The Moon in your sensitive 8th house is squaring Venus in your aspirational 11th house, potentially inciting irritation at the intersection of individual privacy and group plans.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Analysts say the government of Nigeria may feel a papal visit may be too sensitive at this time.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Yorkshire Terrier, lovingly referred to as Yorkie, is recognized for their sprightly, affectionate attitude.—
Katelyn Chef,
Martha Stewart,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Alongside those claims, there exists another version of the couple’s life — one Lynette documented in affectionate detail.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Review subscriptions and tidy receipts, then update prices or boundaries, because clear values help your compassionate nature avoid overgiving.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
But the sentiment at Augusta this week is generally compassionate.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This time, economists say the job market and consumer spending are weaker, and there are no large government stimulus checks being issued to spur demand.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Then, a strong hit by Sennecke on fellow rookie Michael Misa gave way to a weak clearing attempt by former King Tyler Toffoli.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In July 2023, Angus Cloud, who played the gentle drug dealer Fezco, died of an accidental overdose (toxicology reports revealed methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines in his system).—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Something as seemingly innocuous as a gentle tap on the skin signals specialized nerve cells to convert the physical force into an electrical signal to the brain.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dave Walton, a corn, soybean, and hay farmer in Iowa and vice president of the American Soybean Association, said in March that some of his neighbors didn’t have cash on hand last fall to buy fertilizer and were struggling to budget for fertilizer due to high prices.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Building the Xcel Center and investing in a professional hockey team brought in some cash to one corner of the city but did nothing to restore the lost social and human capitals.—
Stephen B. Young,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Joyann Jeffrey,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Windows 11 Pro offers speed improvements, fresh features that make your device feel newer, and tighter security.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ceasefire is already fragile.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The alignment reflects a transactional relationship in which Washington gains access to strategic resources while Caracas seeks revenue and international legitimacy during a fragile transition.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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