tender 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten-dər How to pronounce tender (audio)
Definition of tendernext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in weak
lacking bodily strength a very tender child who always seems to be sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tender

2 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

tender

3 of 3

verb

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

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 tender
Adjective
Cover and bake until cloves are golden and tender, about 2 hours. — Jeremy Fox, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 The story delivers tender and tragic daggers to the heart through a series of unsettling encounters that expose the awkwardness of puberty. — Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Garlic confit transforms pungent raw cloves into a sweet, tender, jammy condiment by cooking them slowly in a bath of oil. — Jeremy Fox, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 The first commandment of my Grove tent is that the chicken shall be Popeye’s (dark meat, no tenders), for all the obvious reasons. — Wright Thompson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
That’s a far cry from the old days when brisket was an inexpensive favorite of working-class Jews who learned to slowly cook this notoriously tough slab of meat to tender perfection. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2026 In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, select images from Intimate Audrey offer a closer look at the star’s life outside the spotlight, from her childhood to tender moments with her own family after achieving superstardom. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
  1. sensitive
  2. affectionate
  3. compassionate
  4. weak
  5. gentle
  6. cash
  7. offer
  8. fragile
Adjective
  • Government debt makes up more than 200% of its gross domestic product, leaving its finances highly sensitive to rising borrowing costs.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In addition to pressure, the team demonstrated that the same basic glass platform could also be made sensitive to temperature.
    — Pawel Maniewski, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • For a quintessential Up North afternoon, head to Gabriel Farms, an 1880s farmstead with vineyards, U-pick apples and berries, and affectionate farm pups.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Veteran flight attendants with decades of experience often earn an affectionate nickname among airline crews.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of affectionate
Adjective
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 The routine that keeps draining you may need a more compassionate rhythm.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use program, which allows a medical product to be used in a serious disease situation even though it has not been specifically approved for that particular use.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Many African economies are in a much weaker economic position compared to the strong 2015-2016 El Niño, the IIF report said, largely due to higher oil prices, which have driven up transport costs, and a strong US dollar.
    — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Too much nitrogen in the spring creates a weak root system that isn’t able to withstand the heat and drought in summer.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Now imagine that each bead carries a tiny battery that continuously gives it a gentle push along the chain.
    — K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Designed as a therapeutic companion, the robot resembles a baby seal and uses soft fur, gentle movements, and responsive sounds to create the calming presence of a living pet.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of gentle
Noun
  • West Suburban closed in March, after the hospital’s CEO said problems with the billing systems left the hospital short on cash.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Down payment expectations are meaningfully larger too; these programs generally want the borrower to have real equity in the deal from day one, and the strongest pricing goes to borrowers who bring more cash and better credit.
    — Karen Koehler, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cash
Verb
  • After 6 months, that kitchen became to small and the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission offered her a small building with a kitchen.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Footage obtained earlier this week by a CNN team on the ground offered a glimpse inside these intricate networks built to harness Nepal’s rivers and fuel its booming hydropower industry.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of offer
Adjective
  • When their ailing mother comes to live with them, old resentments resurface, forcing both women to confront grief, faith, ambition, and the fragile bonds that hold a family together.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The characters aren’t simply vulnerable—they’re contradictory and fragile.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fragile

Phrases Containing tender

Browse Nearby Words

tendentiousness
tender
tendered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tender

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tender

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All