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- DictionaryTen·der/ˈtendər/
adjective
- 1. showing gentleness and concern or sympathy: "he was being so kind and tender" Similar caringkindkindlykindheartedsoftheartedtenderheartedcompassionatesympatheticwarmwarmheartedfeelingfatherlymotherlymaternalgentlemildbenevolentgenerousgivinghumanesusceptiblevulnerableinformal:touchy-feelyaffectionatefondlovingemotionalwarmgentlesoftamorousadoringamatoryinformal:lovey-doveyromanticsentimentalemotionalemotivetouchingmovingpoignantevocativeinformal:soppyOpposite hard-heartedcallousunsympathetic
- ▪ solicitous of; concerned for: archaic "be tender of a lady's reputation"
- 2. (of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough: "tender green beans" Similar easily chewednot toughchewablesoftedibleeatablesucculentjuicyripetenderizedOpposite toughleathery
- 3. (of a part of the body) sensitive to pain: "the pale, tender skin of her forearm" Similar sorepainfulsensitiveinflamedrawredchafedhurtingachingthrobbingsmartingstingingburningirritatedbruisedwoundedinjured
- ▪ (of a plant) easily injured by severe weather and therefore needing protection: "pelargoniums are colorful but tender plants" Similar delicateeasily damagedfragilebreakablefrailOpposite hardy
- ▪ requiring tact or careful handling: "the issue of conscription was a particularly tender one" Similar difficultdelicatetrickyawkwardproblematictroublesometicklishcontroversialemotiveinformal:stickyOpposite uncontroversialstraightforward
- 4. young, immature, and vulnerable: "at the tender age of five" Similar youngyouthfulearlyimpressionableinexperiencedimmatureunsophisticatedunseasonedjuvenilecallowgreenrawinformal:wet behind the earsOpposite advanced
- 5. (of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.
Word Origin Middle English: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener ‘tender, delicate’.
Scrabble Points: 7
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