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   tender

   /ˈtɛndə/

   adjective

   • 1. showing gentleness, kindness, and affection: "he was being so kind and tender" Similar caringkindkindlykind-heartedsoft-heartedtender-heartedcompassionatesympatheticwarmwarm-heartedfeelingfatherlymotherlymaternalgentlemildbenevolentgenerousgivinghumanesusceptiblevulnerableinformal:touchy-feelyaffectionatefondlovingemotionalwarmgentlesoftamorousadoringamatoryinformal:lovey-doveyromanticsentimentalemotionalemotivetouchingmovingpoignantevocativeinformal:soppyOpposite hard-heartedcallousunsympathetic
   • ▪ solicitous of: archaic "be tender of a lady's reputation"
   • 2. (of food) easy to cut or chew; not tough: "tender green beans" Similar easily chewednot toughchewablesoftedibleeatablesucculentjuicyripetenderizedOpposite toughleathery
   • 3. (of a part of the body) sensitive to pain: "the pale, tender skin of her forearm" Similar sorepainfulsensitiveinflamedrawredchafedhurtingachingthrobbingsmartingstingingburningirritatedbruisedwoundedinjured
   • ▪ (of a plant) easily injured by severe weather and therefore needing protection: "pelargoniums are colourful but tender plants" Similar delicateeasily damagedfragilebreakablefrailOpposite hardy
   • ▪ requiring tact or careful handling: "the issue of conscription was a particularly tender one" Similar difficultdelicatetrickyawkwardproblematictroublesometicklishcontroversialemotiveinformal:stickyOpposite uncontroversialstraightforward
   • 4. young, inexperienced, or vulnerable: "he started sailing at the tender age of ten" Similar youngyouthfulearlyimpressionableinexperiencedimmatureunsophisticatedunseasonedjuvenilecallowgreenrawinformal:wet behind the earsOpposite advanced
   • 5. (of a ship) leaning or readily inclined to roll in response to the wind.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French tendre, from Latin tener ‘tender, delicate’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

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