tenderness
11 synonyms and 0 antonyms for tenderness, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Gentle, caring, and affectionate feeling toward someone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tenderness
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From tender + the noun-forming suffix -ness.
Full origin of tenderness →Frequently asked questions
What does “tenderness” mean?
The word “tenderness” means gentle, caring, and affectionate feeling toward someone. In plain terms, either warm affection, or physical soreness to the touch, depending on context.
How do you pronounce “tenderness”?
“Tenderness” is pronounced TEHN-duh-nihs (/ˈtɛn.dɚ.nɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “tenderness” in a sentence?
Here is “tenderness” used in a sentence: “There was real tenderness in the way he spoke about his grandmother.”
What part of speech is “tenderness”?
“Tenderness” is a noun.
Is “tenderness” a common word?
“Tenderness” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “tenderness” have?
“Tenderness” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: gentle, caring, and affectionate feeling toward someone.