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
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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
Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Stir in the stock and tomato paste, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the squash is tender, about 15 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t guarantee Badie will make the 2026 roster, but an initial tender makes sense.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
However, Bellinger's play dipped after winning the World Series in the 2020 season, and the Dodgers non-tendered him in 2022.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Davis could paint with tenderness or bring the hammer.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Adjective
This beloved dish stars cabbage leaves that bake up nice and tender, filled with a beefy, tomato-laden sauce.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Stir in the stock and tomato paste, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the squash is tender, about 15 minutes.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
February 19 – March 20 Certain people can’t be trusted with your tender core at this time.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
That doesn’t guarantee Badie will make the 2026 roster, but an initial tender makes sense.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
The ports will now be re-tendered, a move that cancels CK Hutchison’s 25-year contract.
—semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
However, Bellinger's play dipped after winning the World Series in the 2020 season, and the Dodgers non-tendered him in 2022.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
Cremation stands in contrast to the tenderness and guardianship that Judaism encourages at life’s end.
—Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Davis could paint with tenderness or bring the hammer.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
Adjective
-
The new revelations include documents suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The new revelations include documents suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tall, affectionate and funny, Charles moved through life demanding moral clarity, which could be intimidating, Savannah said.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Not like Bruce, who is very warm and affectionate.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Depictions of such raw humanity have the capacity to shape us into more compassionate community members, more thoughtful voters and more indignant seekers of justice.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
On the surface, this may sound compassionate.—
Eleanor Sobel,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Defense lawyers contend these cases should never have been brought, with weak evidence that juries consistently reject, prompting legal experts to question the prosecution strategy.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
But some indications suggest that the jobs report could come in weaker than expected.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The intuitive Moon is in your sign, lighting your 1st House of Identity and inviting you to show gentle leadership through presence rather than pressure.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This villa is high enough to feel secluded, but never removed from the gentle rhythm of the Caribbean island of Bequia.—
Rebekah Evans,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Local law enforcement and the FBI are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s safe return.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
In September, Putin offered to keep the New START's limits for another year to buy time for both sides to negotiate a successor agreement.—
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Savannah Guthrie opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Biocomputing remains highly experimental, fragile, and difficult to scale.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
At a time of widespread fear and distrust in the United States, Bad Bunny offered a loving and optimistic vision of the American experience during his halftime show at Sunday’s Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings issued an emotional plea on Instagram for their mom's return, citing her spunk, her loving personality and her vulnerability.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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