as in prone
having a tendency to be or act in a certain way
people tending toward daily exercise will significantly reduce their risk of cardiac arrest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in leaning
to show a liking or proneness (for something)
her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supervising
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
tend the store while I run an errand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in growing
to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care
lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cultivating
to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on
plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in managing
to look after and make decisions about
the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tending
Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Sprenkel, who was an offensive lineman during his playing career at Delray Atlantic High and UCF, has been coaching at Boone for the past four seasons, tending to the defensive line for the past two.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
The stock market has become a barometer of how people feel about the economy, with stock investors tending to have more confidence and those without money in the markets being more pessimistic.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Evy is alone in her childhood home tending to her dying mother played by Michèle Duquet.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
But for those who are tending toward cosmetic refusal anyway, the Commission’s words might be just the spiritual ticket.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Mar. 2026
In addition to wash cycles and tending to laundry as soon as the buzzer rings, there are a few other tips to decrease the wrinkles in your wash.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
As the company’s nearly 2,000 store locations have become shipping hubs for online operations, customers say the shopping experience within stores has suffered with staff fulfilling digital orders rather than tending to store aisles.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
That's where retired nurse Elaine Hunter was one of several staff members tending to Belinda's wounds.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
In fact, McCormack is working on his memoir, a story that begins with his days as a young lad tending sheep, pigs, horses, chickens and the occasional beef cow on his family’s farm.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Sprenkel, who was an offensive lineman during his playing career at Delray Atlantic High and UCF, has been coaching at Boone for the past four seasons, tending to the defensive line for the past two.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
The stock market has become a barometer of how people feel about the economy, with stock investors tending to have more confidence and those without money in the markets being more pessimistic.
—Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Evy is alone in her childhood home tending to her dying mother played by Michèle Duquet.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
But for those who are tending toward cosmetic refusal anyway, the Commission’s words might be just the spiritual ticket.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 6 Mar. 2026
In addition to wash cycles and tending to laundry as soon as the buzzer rings, there are a few other tips to decrease the wrinkles in your wash.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
As the company’s nearly 2,000 store locations have become shipping hubs for online operations, customers say the shopping experience within stores has suffered with staff fulfilling digital orders rather than tending to store aisles.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
That's where retired nurse Elaine Hunter was one of several staff members tending to Belinda's wounds.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tending
Adjective
-
Mature skin is prone to dryness, which means your makeup should incorporate skin care ingredients.—
Taryn Brooke,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
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Doctors already know that heart attacks, especially severe ones, are a bit more common on Mondays generally — and in the morning, when blood is more clot-prone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As food supply has deteriorated and food security and deserts have increased, Statner explains that people are less inclined to cook at home and are looking for easy ways to stay healthy.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
These accusations are coming from far-right and far-left accounts as well as anti-Israel groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine, that are inclined to discredit Israel.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tending. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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