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
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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
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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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as in kindness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
volunteers at the shelter tended to all the animals in their care with great tenderness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tender
Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Soreness and loose teeth: The gums become sore or tender with more advanced gum disease.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 May 2025
Temo sought to give boaters a portable, easy-to-handle means of bringing clean, quiet electric propulsion to small vessels like tenders, rowboats and dinghies.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025
What To Know Japanese minesweeper tender JS Bungo and minesweeper JS Etajima arrived at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia's southwestern province of Sihanoukville on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand on Saturday.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
In addition to bleeding in late pregnancy, placental abruption can also cause sudden abdominal and back pain, cramping and tenderness, and intense contractions.
—Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
Funny, sad, kind, and deeply tender, this is a book that goes down like a treat, and stays with you the way only the wisest novels can.
—Emily Temple
may 27, Literary Hub, 27 May 2025
Soreness and loose teeth: The gums become sore or tender with more advanced gum disease.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
Noun
Nichols’ tender twang elevates the song’s storyline and furthers her reputation as both a gifted songcrafter and country vocalist with a penchant for stick-in-your-head lyrics that uniquely put forth a song’s message.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 May 2025
Temo sought to give boaters a portable, easy-to-handle means of bringing clean, quiet electric propulsion to small vessels like tenders, rowboats and dinghies.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2025
Verb
The beans should be well-cooked: tender with a little resistance, not mushy or tough.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025
What To Know Japanese minesweeper tender JS Bungo and minesweeper JS Etajima arrived at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia's southwestern province of Sihanoukville on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand on Saturday.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
This momentary pause, this saving interruption of the headlong, breathless trajectory of rape or murder, admitted a kind of compassion, pity, even tenderness, halting injustice in its tracks.
—Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
In addition to bleeding in late pregnancy, placental abruption can also cause sudden abdominal and back pain, cramping and tenderness, and intense contractions.
—Lisa McCarty, SELF, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
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This principle, applied across all workloads, is instrumental for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.—
Ben Blanquera,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Amino acids are more easily absorbed than proteins and do not damage the intestinal environment, which means even those with sensitive digestions can take them.—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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While being affectionate around adults and children, the breed will stand up to threats from strangers.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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Everyone will want to have fun and will feel relaxed and affectionate.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Seek out people who are compassionate and who have your back.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
5 June 2025
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That’s why taking a holistic, compassionate approach to dealing with these issues is crucial.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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In addition to a weak critical reception, the film became mired in controversy due to political comments made by lead actress Rachel Zegler in the run-up to its release; the casting of a Latina actress as the titular character; and the use of CGI to reimagine the seven dwarfs.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
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Global Blue's weak February European shopper data released on March 5 did indeed work as a catalyst.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The finish is medium-length, clean, and refreshing with a lingering gentle warmth and a smooth aftertaste.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
What soon follows is a gradual, gentle introduction to a wide ensemble of characters with torrid histories — which is to say, falling-outs over drag show disagreements — as zombie mayhem slowly creeps in through the corners of the frame.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
And with fuel savings, lower maintenance costs, and fewer emissions, EVs continue to offer compelling advantages for everyday drivers.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 June 2025
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If an executive is caught on a margin call from borrowing, where the equity of the stock pledge is worth less than a set baseline, the person will have to pony up more cash, offer alternative assets, or sell off additional shares to cover the balance.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Oyun-Erdene warned before the confidence vote that a change in government could threaten Mongolia’s fragile democracy, which only started in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 June 2025
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By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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This disorder also affects a parent’s ability to be an attentive and loving caregiver.—
Ty Schepis,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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