tenderness
noun
ten·der·ness
ˈten-dər-nəs 
: a tender quality or condition: such as
a
: gentleness and affection
His voice quavered with tenderness.—
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates
b
: the quality of being succulent and easily chewed
How you carve the meat enhances the tenderness and juiciness of each portion.—Kemp Minifie
Kemp Minifie
c
: sensitivity to touch or palpation
They found a small increased risk of reactions such as redness, swelling, and/or tenderness at the injection site …—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical AssociationExamples of tenderness in a Sentence
volunteers at the shelter tended to all the animals in their care with great tenderness
Recent Examples on the Web
The meticulousness of the verse expresses not only the soldier’s discipline and resolve, but also the poet’s care, her unspoken but unmistakable tenderness toward him.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
When combined with flour and sugar and baked, the gooey combo of protein and water found in egg whites prevents the final product from falling apart, and the fat from their yolks add tenderness, flavor, and color.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 20 Feb. 2025
With tenderness and love for its protagonist, the film touches on the unshakeable bond between man, animal, and nature in a profoundly touching manner.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
With the utmost tenderness, Azrael brushes back a bit of hair from my face.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderness
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A.o. Scott, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
When combined with flour and sugar and baked, the gooey combo of protein and water found in egg whites prevents the final product from falling apart, and the fat from their yolks add tenderness, flavor, and color.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 20 Feb. 2025
With tenderness and love for its protagonist, the film touches on the unshakeable bond between man, animal, and nature in a profoundly touching manner.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
With the utmost tenderness, Azrael brushes back a bit of hair from my face.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderness
Cite this Entry
“Tenderness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderness. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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