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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

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."

How to use tenderness

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither warm affection, or physical soreness to the touch, depending on context.

Common pairings
show tenderness abdominal tenderness

Word forms

tendernesses plural

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There was real _____ in the way he spoke about his grandmother.

Etymology

From tender + the noun-forming suffix -ness.

Related words

Rhymes for tenderness

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial