1
as in affectionate
feeling or showing love
a tenderhearted new mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others
a tenderhearted offer of help for the victims of the earthquake
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kindness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
a hard-nosed businessman, better known for his tough-mindedness than for his tenderheartedness
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 tenderhearted
Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Baldoni’s non-fiction series was key to establishing his credentials as a producer of commercial projects with a tenderhearted spin.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Sentimental Baby Card Messages Nothing brings out emotions quite like the arrival of a new baby, so a tenderhearted message to the parents will be especially appreciated.
—Anna Moeslein, Parents, 21 Jan. 2025
But, as the earnest, klutzy, tenderhearted nerd Steve Urkel, White hit it off with audiences and found himself suddenly at the center of the star-making machine.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
In an exclusive new clip from Yacht Rock — which premieres Friday, Nov. 29 on HBO and Max — the tenderhearted side of the genre gets its due.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
Kalmar’s leadership and the orchestra’s stellar ensemble work made a powerful case for the piece, but not so much for its tenderhearted narrative.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
This tenderhearted anthem is aleady becoming a bridesmaid favorite.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Simmonds, a horror veteran after starring in the Quiet Place films, breathes empathy and resilience into her performance as the tenderhearted Bernie, who can often pinpoint shocking events that will unfold on stage down to the exact second.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 June 2023
Adjective
Baker also cast Russian actor Yura Borisov as a tenderhearted henchman.
—Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
Baldoni’s non-fiction series was key to establishing his credentials as a producer of commercial projects with a tenderhearted spin.
—Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Sentimental Baby Card Messages Nothing brings out emotions quite like the arrival of a new baby, so a tenderhearted message to the parents will be especially appreciated.
—Anna Moeslein, Parents, 21 Jan. 2025
But, as the earnest, klutzy, tenderhearted nerd Steve Urkel, White hit it off with audiences and found himself suddenly at the center of the star-making machine.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
In an exclusive new clip from Yacht Rock — which premieres Friday, Nov. 29 on HBO and Max — the tenderhearted side of the genre gets its due.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
Kalmar’s leadership and the orchestra’s stellar ensemble work made a powerful case for the piece, but not so much for its tenderhearted narrative.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2024
This tenderhearted anthem is aleady becoming a bridesmaid favorite.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Simmonds, a horror veteran after starring in the Quiet Place films, breathes empathy and resilience into her performance as the tenderhearted Bernie, who can often pinpoint shocking events that will unfold on stage down to the exact second.
—Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 2 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderhearted
Adjective
-
While a hard, unblinking stare with stiff posture can signal aggression or resource guarding—especially over treats or toys—gentle, affectionate staring often expresses love.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
-
Italian photographer Nicola Fioravanti was the overall winner in the professional division for his affectionate look at Morocco, his partner's birthplace.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
One way to initiate a more intentional approach to developing people-centric leaders is to explore the compassionate leadership toolkit, which includes a free assessment, and consider attending WorkHuman’s next conference for educational and morale purposes.—
Laurel Donnellan,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
This can help the development of more conscious leadership and the formation of compassionate teams.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
By Carol McCloud, Illustrated by David Messing Summary: This book explains clearly and simply how everyone has an invisible bucket that can be filled through small acts of kindness or emptied by acts of thoughtlessness or cruelty.—
Esther K. Choy,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Among the many points for assessing happiness around the world, like sharing meals with others and family bonds, researchers for the 2025 World Happiness Report looked closely at acts of kindness.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Parks-Ramage doesn’t come to a specific conclusion, and although some of his more righteous characters seem to be firmly on the reproduction-is-immoral side, his depiction of Gabriel’s childlike wonder and imagination is tender and loving.—
Ilana Masad,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
-
This disorder also affects a parent’s ability to be an attentive and loving caregiver.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
That relationship is built, visit by visit, kind interaction after warm conversation.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
1 June 2025
-
Ultimately, however, the union won its contract. 1995: In the largest takeover of its kind, federal housing officials took control of the Chicago Housing Authority four days after its chairman, Vince Lane, and the CHA board resigned under a cloud of mismanagement.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
The title, in Muslim eschatology, refers to a narrow bridge between Paradise and Hell, which is fitting, insofar as Laxe’s movie is both a nightmarish experience and an exhilarating one—a pitiless ordeal that is nonetheless underpinned by extraordinary love and tenderness.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
-
If there is an archetypal quality to each girl and if this is amplified by the stereotypical nature of their problems, there is enough tenderness in the atmosphere of the shelter to allow each actor to take their foot of the gas and relax into the small and soothing tasks that make up domesticity.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Chicharito also benefitted from his market placement in LA, in his case mainly due to the proximity to an adoring Mexican fanbase throughout Southern California.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
In some cases, like his calls to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Mr. Trump has promised changes that many of his most adoring fans in Europe have stopped well short of.—
Jim Tankersley,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, organised crime still has its tendrils in many parts of the sport across the globe, and the misty-eyed reverence for benevolent local tycoons is a notion that went extinct before the Tasmanian tiger.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
-
Another new motif was the eye, meant to represent here an omniscient but benevolent entity that accompanies and perpetuates knowledge in an unaltered state.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenderhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderhearted. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share