TENDED Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

tended 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of tend

as in leaned

to show a liking or proneness (for something) her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tended

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of tend

as in watched

to take charge of especially on behalf of another tend the store while I run an errand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grew

to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cultivated

to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in managed

to look after and make decisions about the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tended

Verb

The big midterms have tended to come in presidents' second terms, when their popularity and political energy may be waning. — Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 Several studies suggest Gen Z and millennial heirs are more likely to focus on systemic causes, like climate, health, human rights and international development, while boomers and Gen Xers tended to focus more on local institutions. — Robert Frank, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Those chats tended to include what was going right or wrong or could be better. — Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 Wedgewood polls tended to be about 1 percentage point more favorable for Democrats than other polls, according to Silver. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026 By contrast, men tended to view local office primarily as a pathway to higher office. — Emma Schroeder, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026 The Upper Basin, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, has tended to be more resilient as its groundwater benefits from melting snow coursing down the Rocky Mountains. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 London’s wealthiest tended to panic and flee to their country residences. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 Nobody really asked that question out loud too much, and especially in my community, which tended to be more conservative than some other orders. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tended

Verb

There’s something so unsettling about a game show where the contestants’ well-being is not considered, and The Tonight Show leaned into that uncanniness to great effect.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
The Horned Frogs leaned more on their passing game as the run game took a step back significantly in 2023.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of leaned

Verb

On an adjusted basis, operating income grew 10%, beating analysts' expectations.

— Justina Lee,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Yet amid all the decadent breakfasts and sparkling balls, one socialite found herself on a deeper mission as the days grew longer and a warm summer set in.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of grew

Verb

Eisenkot has cultivated a reputation for integrity, competence, and personal rectitude, forging relationships across Israel’s fractured political spectrum.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Smith, who previously worked at fashion house Loewe, sees an opportunity for technology to develop the same kind of recognizable identity that fashion brands have cultivated for decades.

— Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of cultivated

Verb

At a news conference Monday, the country’s director of public security, Obeidallah Maaytah, said that law enforcement tracked down the individuals involved in that attack and, after a shootout, managed to arrest them and seize their weapons.

— Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
In contrast, participants who kept training just once or twice a week managed to hold onto a significant portion of their blood pressure reductions.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of managed

Verb

For those inclined toward a full suite of diamonds, there’s also a necklace and matching bracelet composed of round brilliant stones, each framed by a delicate diamond halo.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026
Spooky season is all about getting your thrills, and for the literary-inclined, there is plenty to look forward to this month.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of inclined

Verb

Englert also supervised the stunning cinematography, and one marvels at how this often silly film looks so smart.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
At the time of his arrest, McQuay supervised about 15 officers assigned to a patrol unit in Fresno’s northeast policing district.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of supervised

Verb

Co-produced by John Congleton, the record swaps synth-pop for gutter-punk, with distorted guitars and clattering surf riffs as its weapons of choice.

— Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
Not coincidentally, Seattle converted 11 of 16 third-down situations and amassed 410 yards — nearly double what the Chiefs produced (213).

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of produced

Browse Nearby Words

tend

tended

tended (to)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tended. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tended

verb (1)

verb (2)

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes