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
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
Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
This is a wonderfully imaginative, tender account of William Shakespeare and his world.
—Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Add pasta, and cook, stirring occasionally, according to package directions until tender.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
Wahlstrom had 15 points in 19 games with Providence but was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Bruins in June and became an unrestricted free agent.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
At the heart of her life was her daughter, Angeline, whom friends and relatives said Joseph raised to be both resilient and tender, reflecting her mother’s own spirit.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
This is a wonderfully imaginative, tender account of William Shakespeare and his world.
—Phillipa Gregory, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
Known as velveting, marinating the steak in cornstarch ensures that the meat stays juicy and tender.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Add pasta, and cook, stirring occasionally, according to package directions until tender.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
From bouncy dancehall riddims and hip-hop production inflections to tender country and western guitar licks, Treasure Self Love distills Iké’s wide range of childhood music into a succinct 11-track study of achieving wholeness by unflinchingly examining the darkest parts of your past.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2025
Wahlstrom had 15 points in 19 games with Providence but was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Bruins in June and became an unrestricted free agent.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
Options may include topical corticosteroids or nonsteroidal immunomodulators, which are often used on sensitive areas or for long-term control.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Made without parabens, soaps or alcohols, the hypoallergenic wipes are great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Denver Zoo shared a few snaps of the affectionate duo — the only two females in their habitat — in a post on Facebook.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Romance will be affectionate, memorable and reassuring.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
We are honored to spotlight a community that not only faced an unprecedented disaster but emerged with a stronger, more compassionate spirit.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
-
TikTokers were quick to praise Coco for his empathy and Cruz for raising such a compassionate pup.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Stevenson has become more intentional with his efforts to understand offensive concepts and routes and the ways opposing teams often attack his weak spots.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
But this weaker god jumped in without hesitation and was gifted the ability to become Tonatiuh, the sun.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Senior editor Joe Sevier lauded the gentler white flower aromas and flavors.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Friends remember her as a gentle soul, who loved the piano, and a loyal Kennedy.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
McGawley recommends giving children actual cash—bills and coins—as young as age 5.—
Christina Binkley,
Robb Report,
11 Oct. 2025
-
But the wine, card and cash was not enough — at least according to her friend.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The museum offers school field trip opportunities for all ages and Johnson tells me that field trip scholarships are available for schools through funding from the Tyson Family Foundation.—
Carin Schoppmeyer,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement The breakthrough in recent days offers a chance to reassert America's ability to shape events beyond its borders.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The movie flattening Carrie into someone downtrodden and fragile, rather than standoffish and conflicted, makes the whole resolution feel a little too clean.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Acts of violence have shown how fragile coexistence can be, and how quickly fear can replace understanding.—
Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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