tender

Soft enough to bite and eat easily.

• The meat is tender.
• Cook the carrots until they are tender.
• This slow cooking method makes tough beef tender.

Similar words: soft

Opposites: tough

Common phrases: tender meat, tender chicken, tender steak

Showing love and care in a gentle way.

• She gave him a tender kiss.
• His tender words helped her feel safe.
• They shared a tender moment before saying goodbye.

Similar words: loving, gentle, affectionate

Opposites: harsh

Common phrases: tender kiss, tender smile, tender care

Hurting or feeling uncomfortable when someone touches it.

• My ankle is tender.
• The skin around the cut felt tender.
• Are your gums still tender after the treatment?

How to use it: tender to the touch (The swollen area was tender to the touch.)

Similar words: sore, sensitive

Common phrases: tender skin, tender spot, tender to touch

Soft or delicate, so that it can be hurt or damaged easily.

• Protect the tender plants from frost.
• The wind damaged the tender shoots.
• Her tender skin burned quickly in the sun.

Similar words: delicate, fragile

Opposites: tough, hardy

Common phrases: tender plants, tender shoots, tender leaves

Very young, with little experience of life.

• She started acting at a tender age.
• At the tender age of six, he moved abroad.
• He had faced many difficulties despite his tender years.

Similar words: young, inexperienced

Common phrases: tender age, tender years

Money or another accepted way of paying for something.

• These coins are legal tender.
• The shop accepts cash as tender.
• Foreign banknotes are not legal tender here.

Common phrases: legal tender, acceptable tender

A formal offer to supply goods, do work, or buy something for a stated price.

• The company submitted a tender.
• Three tenders arrived for the building project.
• Their tender offered the lowest price.

How to use it: tender for something (They submitted a tender for the cleaning contract.)

Similar words: bid, offer

Common phrases: submit a tender, competitive tender, tender for something

Money or another accepted way to pay for goods, services, or debts.

• Cash is an accepted form of tender.
• These old notes are no longer legal tender.
• The cashier asked for another form of tender.

Similar words: means of payment

Common phrases: legal tender, cash tender, form of tender