as in kindness
sympathetic concern for the well-being of others
volunteers at the shelter tended to all the animals in their care with great tenderness
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Recent Examples of tenderness
Imagine a world where each of these environments were built on valuing time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success.
—
Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Feel enveloped in universal tenderness.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Armstrong, the first woman to tackle Alcott’s book for the big screen, imbues every frame with tenderness, nostalgia, and the glow of unconditional love.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
The sour cream and heavy cream help bind the dough and add tenderness and moisture.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderness
kindness
Noun
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For months afterward, kindness arrived in unexpected forms — neighbors bringing food, strangers offering furniture, friends calling daily.—
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Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?—
Cite this Entry
“Tenderness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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