tender 1 of 3

adjective

ˈten-dər How to pronounce tender (audio)
Definition of tendernext
1
as in sensitive
easily injured without careful handling a tender wound tender plants that cannot take the cold tender pride that got bruised when his girlfriend dumped him

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2
as in affectionate
feeling or showing love a tender embrace between father and daughter

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3
as in compassionate
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others an especially tender teacher who loves having kids with special educational needs in her class

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4
as in weak
lacking bodily strength a very tender child who always seems to be sick

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5
as in gentle
not harsh or stern especially in nature or effect his tender comments on how to improve her writing style were gratefully received

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tender

2 of 3

noun

as in cash
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment money from that board game is not legal tender and can't be exchanged for goods or services

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tender

3 of 3

verb

as in to offer
to put before another for acceptance or consideration the coach tendered his resignation and started a new career as a physical therapist

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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 tender
Adjective
In warmer climates, angelonia is a tender perennial that can last through the winter. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026 Red lentils are the quickest cooking and break down when cooked; other varieties hold their shape and take a little longer to become tender. — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
Noun
These ardent vows notwithstanding, the riven Ahab periodically yearns for the peace and comforts of home while viewing such tender, human feelings as weakness. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Various concepts and workstreams continue to be evaluated, and no conclusions should be drawn from individual consultant tenders or preliminary planning materials. — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Verb
Shabanov, 25, wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer Monday by the Islanders. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 2 July 2026 The Flyers tendered the five-year, $90-million offer sheet to Carlsson on Friday, which would require four of the Flyers’ first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation. — Dan Gelston, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tender
  1. sensitive
  2. affectionate
  3. compassionate
  4. weak
  5. gentle
  6. cash
  7. offer
  8. fragile
Adjective
  • Rescuers then wait intently for any indication of life, using sensitive microphones or telescopic cameras or simply pressing an ear against the rubble, hoping to detect a voice, a knock or the faintest movement.
    — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • So far, the administration has sued multiple states unsuccessfully in attempts to obtain sensitive voter-roll data to run through a federal database known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program.
    — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 1 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Cancer could be affectionate and chatty one moment, and withdrawn and irritable the next, with little to no explanation.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
  • The couple were affectionate while walking the red carpet together as well as while inside the venue.
    — Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Definition of affectionate
Adjective
  • Weeks’ mother described her daughter as passionate about music and justice, witty and compassionate.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Such a bond occurs when a judge grants a compassionate release for inmates who are in failing health and no longer a threat to the community.
    — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • The luxurious washes and soaps are gentle on skin for a clean, nourished feeling.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Everywhere, in big cities and small towns, there’s an increase in the adultification of children, even the well-off ones, even the ones raised by gentle parents, even the ones with skate and surf camps, guitar lessons, and college funds.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of gentle
Noun
  • If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will keep ticking up.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • There’s enough cash on hand for Rhaenyra to administer the Seven Kingdoms for a fortnight, and no one remaining from the old regime — not Alicent, not Orwyle — knows where Lannister hid the rest of the ingots.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of cash
Verb
  • In April, authorities say investigators with the California’s Contractors State License Board’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team discovered online advertisements offering construction services that did not list a contractor license number.
    — Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • For a few hours, bhajan gatherings offer an escape from those pressures.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of offer
Adjective
  • Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
Definition of fragile

Phrases Containing tender

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tendentiousness
tender
tendered
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Cite this Entry

“Tender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tender. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tender

Nglish: Translation of tender for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tender

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