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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
a very tender child who always seems to be sick
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tender
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Once the lentils are tender, taste and adjust the sauce for seasoning with pepper.
—Virginia Willis, AJC.com, 22 Feb. 2026
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Like any good explorer, the yacht can also hold two tenders and a chopper.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
The Red Sox non-tendered him after the season.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
Your 5th House of Joy warms as passionate Mars moves through it, sextiling tender Chiron in your 7th House of Alliances and encouraging playful healing.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
Once the lentils are tender, taste and adjust the sauce for seasoning with pepper.
—Virginia Willis, AJC.com, 22 Feb. 2026
Noun
The deadline for teams to place franchise or transition tenders is March 3, a week before the negotiation period (March 9).
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Like any good explorer, the yacht can also hold two tenders and a chopper.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Evan Phillips excited to be back Days after signing a one-year contract to return to the Dodgers — despite being non-tendered earlier in the offseason — Evan Phillips expressed relief at being back.
—Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
The Red Sox non-tendered him after the season.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.—
Mary Gaitskill,
New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Derived from eucalyptus wood, the material is gentle on sensitive skin, manages moisture, and has a silky, luxe texture.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Aside from the 43rd president’s penchant for surfacing mostly for official events — joking in an affectionate and hilarious manner with Michelle Obama — Bush’s taciturn post-presidency cuts a striking contrast with the two men who bracketed his tenure.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
But after a perfunctory squeeze, her father lays his head on her shoulder in a gesture of affectionate, put-on penitence.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Protect your rest now, and let silence restore a clear, compassionate perspective.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The past four years of conflict have exposed more than one faulty assumption, not least the previously widespread belief even among Kyiv’s allies that Ukraine would be too weak, too disorganized, to resist a full-scale invasion.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … PARTY RECKONING — Cortez Masto admits Democrats have been 'weak on immigration,' chides Biden.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wash gym clothes on a gentle setting.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
-
They are specifically designed to provide gentle, even pressure across the body.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will keep ticking up.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Americans have been spending serious cash on their trucks and sport utility vehicles, with the average transaction price above $49,000 in January, according to Kelley Blue Book.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Lunar rocks and soil offered novel insights into the moon’s origin and composition, and more recent analysis of previously untouched Apollo samples, as well as samples retrieved by robotic missions, revealed the surprising discovery of water trapped in rocks thought to be bone-dry.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
This formula, in particular, offers a liposomal delivery—a 125 mg phospholipid complex—to protect against degradation during digestion.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Treading a fine line in Venezuela’s power struggle The amnesty push comes against the backdrop of Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro landscape, with the acting government under Rodríguez navigating US pressure, economic challenges and calls for stability.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Last year, thanks to a Prebys Healing Through the Arts grant, Resounding Joy brought music to 50 participants in Mama’s Kitchen’s senior nutrition program, which delivers free meals to homebound medically fragile seniors in need.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
