tender

About 11.63 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Sensitive or painful to the touch.
2. adjective Easily bruised or injured; not firm or hard; delicate.

   tender plants

3. adjective Physically weak; not able to endure hardship.
4. adjective Soft and easily chewed.
5. adjective Sensible to impression and pain; easily pained.
6. adjective Fond, loving, gentle, or sweet.

   Suzanne was such a tender mother to her children.

7. adjective Young and inexperienced.

   I first had a girlfriend at the tender age of seven.

8. adjective Adapted to excite feeling or sympathy; expressive of the softer passions; pathetic.

   tender expressions; tender expostulations; a tender strain

Similar words

delicate sentimental tenderized soft fond tippy affectionate vulnerable crank sensitive

Often followed by

and of offer age to in mercies years for

Word family

tendered tenderer tenderest tendering tenderly tenders