as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenderfoot
Smit-McPhee plays a hapless Scottish tenderfoot who teams with Fassbender's conflicted bounty hunter to track down his true love in the American West.
—
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderfoot
Noun
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There are some things novice and experienced dog owners should know to raise a successful pup to adulthood.—
Krystal Nurse,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
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As Syrus Solo Jin wrote in Time, budget blunders by overwhelmed novices meant police weren’t paid on time.—
Michelle Goldberg,
The Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For beginners, the goal is to get the minimum weekly requirements and increase from there.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
19 Feb. 2025
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Six different yoga classes are offered, from hot and powerful to slow and mindful, for beginners or experienced.—
Anne Gelhaus,
The Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Her lore reveal indicates that her childlike stature doesn't always inspire confidence in her apprentices at first with some even requesting their money to be refunded upon seeing her.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The Clone Wars features several fan favorites, including Anakin’s apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, who wouldn’t appear in live-action until The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and finally her own series, Ahsoka.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There are dozens of other newcomers to the big leagues who could determine the course of the 2025 title chases.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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Here are the relative newcomers Hayes will be assessing with an eye toward future national team camps.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Colapinto’s arrival in January to much fanfare naturally seemed to put pressure on rookie Doohan, who is just one race into his F1 career after his late-season debut in Abu Dhabi last year.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
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Holland played under defensive coordinator Brian Flores during his rookie season in 2021 and that was an excellent season with 69 tackles, 10 passes defensed and 2.5 sacks.—
Steve Silverman,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Banks started at left tackle as a true freshman in ’22 for the Longhorns and has excelled ever since.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2025
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There’s a chance Ohio State plays as many as three running backs in major snaps next season, and if that’s the case, there could be a freshman ready to make an immediate impact too.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenderfoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderfoot. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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