Word
tenderness
Phoneticsten·der·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛndɝnəs/
UK/tˈɛndənəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a feeling of pain or soreness when a part of your body is touched. It can also mean a gentle, loving way of acting toward someone.
n. sensitivity to pain or pressure in a specific area of the body; also refers to a quality of gentleness, affection, or kindness. Often used in clinical settings to describe localized physical discomfort.
Examples
“The doctor checked for any tenderness in my lower back.”
“The nurse noted significant tenderness around the surgical site, suggesting that the area was still inflamed.”
“While the physical tenderness in his bruised ribs eventually faded, the emotional tenderness he showed his family during his recovery remained a permanent fixture of their household.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor checked for any tenderness in my lower back.”
contextual
“The nurse noted significant tenderness around the surgical site, suggesting that the area was still inflamed.”
complex
“While the physical tenderness in his bruised ribs eventually faded, the emotional tenderness he showed his family during his recovery remained a permanent fixture of their household.”
Usage
Uncountable in both its medical and emotional senses; often followed by the preposition 'in' when referring to a body part.
Real-World Examples
“Jacklin’s gentle, startlingly controlled voice is her superpower, bringing stories to life with tenderness and emotion.” “His co-star, singer Charlotte Church, praised the show's final, which attracted 15 million viewers within seven days, describing it as a "beautiful vignette of male tenderness and emotional expression".” Etymology
From tender + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/tenderness