as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenderfoot
Smit-McPhee plays a hapless Scottish tenderfoot who teams with Fassbender's conflicted bounty hunter to track down his true love in the American West.
—
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderfoot
Noun
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Now, the website has become essential for anyone who’s interested in, or serious about, chess—from novices to grandmasters.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
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Especially for opera novices, the Prelude Talks can be a great way to get oriented before the overture.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Then The Woobles entered the chat and completely transformed the beginner-friendly crochet project space—and quickly became the must-have gift for the holiday season.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
13 Oct. 2025
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Lang is, in the richest sense, a promising beginner.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In 1975, Antonucci was a 16-year-old apprentice for Gacy’s construction company, PDM Contractors, in Des Plaines, Ill.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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The trailer shows Hemsworth’s Geralt assembling an army of adventurers to track down his former Witcher apprentice Ciri (Freya Allan).—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And as if to show the newcomers what success looks like, Hamilton, in its 10th year on Broadway, scored its best-ever weekly gross, taking in a massive $4,042,906.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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Spanning four decks, the newcomer can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Poised to make his 49ers debut is rookie fourth-round pick Jordan Watkins, who nearly collided in warmups Thursday with Skyy Moore in Moore’s return from a one-day hiatus (ankle injury).—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Eleven of 19 batters struck out against Glasnow and hard-throwing Milwaukee rookie Jacob Misiorowski in the third, fourth and fifth innings with just one baserunner (on a walk), leaving the game locked in a 1-1 tie until the Dodgers put something together in the sixth.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As freshmen, Rose, Chico, and Tupac were relative unknowns.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
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Our Freshman All-America team recognizes the true freshmen and redshirt freshmen who have made the biggest impact for their teams in 2025.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenderfoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderfoot. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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