tenderness
TEHN-duh-nihs
Tenderness (noun) means Gentle, caring, and affectionate feeling toward someone. Example: “There was real tenderness in the way he spoke about his grandmother.”
noun
1
Gentle, caring, and affectionate feeling toward someone.
"There was real tenderness in the way he spoke about his grandmother."
2
Soreness or pain when an area of the body is touched.
"The doctor pressed on her stomach to check for tenderness."
"Amies Oelschlager said in a statement that oral contraceptives that contain estrogen may cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, and breast tenderness."
— Amanda Musa, The FDA approved the US’ first over-the-counter birth control pill. What happens next? (2023)
"He noted her extreme tenderness when he touched the bruise on her thigh."
How to use tenderness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither warm affection, or physical soreness to the touch, depending on context.
Common pairings
show tenderness
abdominal tenderness
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Word forms
- Plural
- tendernesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was real _____ in the way he spoke about his grandmother.
Etymology
From tender + the noun-forming suffix -ness.
Synonyms
View more →
heart
affection
fondness
philia
rawness
soreness
warmness
warmheartedness
softheartedness
affectionateness
tenderheartedness
Related words
Rhymes for tenderness
See all rhymes for 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.
