Synonyms for tenderness
ten·der·ness

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. tenderness

   An attachment is a feeling that binds a person by ties of heart to another person or thing; we speak of a man's adherence to his purpose, his adhesion to his party, or to anything to which he clings tenaciously, tho with no special tenderness; of his attachment to his church, to the old homestead, or to any persons or objects that he may hold dear. Affection expresses more warmth of feeling; we should not speak of a mother's attachment to her babe, but of her affection or of her devotion. Inclination expresses simply a tendency, which may be good or bad, yielded to or overcome; as, an inclination to study; an inclination to drink. Regard is more distant than affection or attachment, but closer and warmer than esteem; we speak of high esteem, kind regard. Compare ACQUAINTANCE; APPENDAGE; FRIENDSHIP; LOVE; UNION.

   Synonyms:
   adherence, adhesion, affection, attachment, devotion, esteem, esteem, estimation, friendship, inclination, love, regard, union

   Antonyms:
   alienation, animosity, antipathy, aversion, coolness, dislike, distance, divorce, enmity, estrangement, indifference, opposition, repugnance, separation, severance

   Preposition:
   Attachment of a true man to his friends; attachment to a leader for his nobility of character; the attachments between two persons or things; attachment by muscular fibers, or by a rope, etc.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tenderness

   Synonyms:
   delicacy, softness, kindness, sensibility, pity, benevolence, humanity, clemency, beneficence

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. tendernessnoun

   a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling

   Synonyms:
   heart, rawness, warmheartedness, soreness, tenderheartedness, philia, affectionateness, softheartedness, warmness, affection, fondness

2. tenderness, soreness, rawnessnoun

   a pain that is felt (as when the area is touched)

   "the best results are generally obtained by inserting the needle into the point of maximum tenderness"; "after taking a cold, rawness of the larynx and trachea come on"

   Synonyms:
   heart, rawness, warmheartedness, soreness, inexperience, tenderheartedness, irritation, philia, incompleteness, affectionateness, softheartedness, warmness, affection, fondness, discomfort

3. tenderness, tenderheartednessnoun

   warm compassionate feelings

   Synonyms:
   heart, rawness, warmheartedness, soreness, tenderheartedness, philia, affectionateness, softheartedness, warmness, affection, fondness

4. affection, affectionateness, fondness, tenderness, heart, warmness, warmheartedness, philianoun

   a positive feeling of liking

   "he had trouble expressing the affection he felt"; "the child won everyone's heart"; "the warmness of his welcome made us feel right at home"

   Synonyms:
   affection, rawness, partiality, affectionateness, substance, philia, meat, centre, lovingness, center, core, marrow, sum, nerve, ticker, warmth, fancy, nub, kernel, nitty-gritty, spirit, softheartedness, gist, tenderheartedness, warmness, inwardness, pith, heart, bosom, pump, essence, mettle, warmheartedness, heart and soul, fondness, soreness, spunk, eye, middle

5. softheartedness, tendernessnoun

   a feeling of concern for the welfare of someone (especially someone defenseless)

   Synonyms:
   rawness, heart, soreness, warmheartedness, tenderheartedness, philia, affectionateness, softheartedness, warmness, affection, fondness

Matched Categories

1. • Affectionateness
   • Compassion
   • Concern
   • Pain

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   softness, delicacy, want of firmness

2. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   weakness, want of strength, feebleness

3. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   effeminacy, womanly quality

4. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   soreness, sensitiveness

5. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   compassion, kindness, sympathy, affection, pity, love, gentleness, benevolence, leniency, clemency, sensibility, mildness, benignity, humanity, loving-kindness

6. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   pathos

7. tendernessnoun

   Synonyms:
   caution, carefulness

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "tenderness":

   sensitivity, susceptibility, affection, sweetness, sensibility, tender, sensitivities, fondness

How to pronounce tenderness?

How to say tenderness in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use tenderness in a sentence?

1. James Corden:

   I watched that 'Try a Little Tenderness' dance routine so many times, the tape on the VHS wore out.

2. Jane Austen:

   There is no charm equal to the tenderness of heart.

3. Kahlil Gibran:

   Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.

4. Thomas Rosica:

   It's about time that we stop and allow the Pope to speak the language of most ordinary people, especially parents, who understand the Pope far better than those who parse every single word and statement that comes out of his mouth! let us not read into the Pope's words anything other than what is there. He speaks constantly of mercy and tenderness. He speaks as a pastor and loving father figure who loves children and wants the best for them.

5. Kahlil Gibran:

   Love is know the pain of too much tenderness.