tender

19 synonyms and 1 antonym for tender, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

loving sensitive bid offer

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

gentle affectionate sore fond crank stamp attendant cutter

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

cranky nesh lovesome attender pinnace tenderize tenderise

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

“Her grandfather's tender smile made the whole family feel safe and loved.”

gentle affectionate loving sore sensitive bid cranky fond nesh offer crank lovesome

Opposites

tough

2. noun

A formal offer or bid to supply goods or carry out work, especially for a contract.

“Several companies put in a tender to build the new school.”

bid attender stamp attendant pinnace cutter

3. verb

To formally offer or submit something, such as a resignation or a bid.

“The contractor tendered a bid to repair the road outside the town hall.”

tenderize bid offer tenderise

How to use tender

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

tender loving care submit a tender tender the resignation legal tender

Etymology

The "soft, gentle" sense comes from Latin tener ("soft, delicate") via Old French tendre. The "offer, bid" sense is a separate word from Old French tendre ("to stretch out, offer"), from Latin tendere.

Full origin of tender →

Frequently asked questions

What does “tender” mean?

The word “tender” means gentle, loving, or showing warm affection. In plain terms, depending on context: gentle and affectionate, sore to the touch, soft in texture, or a formal business offer/bid.

How do you pronounce “tender”?

“Tender” is pronounced TEHN-duh (/ˈtɛn.dɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “tender” in a sentence?

Here is “tender” used in a sentence: “He gave her a tender kiss on the forehead.”

What is another word for “tender”?

Words with a similar meaning to “tender” include nesh and offer.

What part of speech is “tender”?

Depending on how it is used, “tender” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “tender” come from?

The word “tender” comes from Latin. The "soft, gentle" sense comes from Latin tener ("soft, delicate") via Old French tendre. The "offer, bid" sense is a separate word from Old French tendre ("to stretch out, offer"), from Latin tendere.

Is “tender” a common word?

“Tender” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “tender” have?

“Tender” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: gentle, loving, or showing warm affection.

What is the difference between tender and gentle?

Gentle describes a mild, careful manner or touch, while tender adds warmth and affection — tender words or a tender look express love, not just mildness. Tender also has meanings gentle lacks: sore when touched, soft and easy to chew (of meat), and a formal bid for a contract.

People also searched

offer tough sensitive loving BID gentle stamp sore fond attendant cutter crank

Nearby words

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