Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun tenderness

5 senses of tenderness

Sense 1
tenderness -- (a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling)
       => affectionateness, fondness, lovingness, warmth -- (a quality proceeding from feelings of affection or love)

Sense 2
tenderness, soreness, rawness -- (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")
       => pain, hurting -- (a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder; "the patient developed severe pain and distension")

Sense 3
tenderness, tenderheartedness -- (warm compassionate feelings)
       => compassion, compassionateness -- (a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering)

Sense 4
affection, affectionateness, fondness, tenderness, heart, warmness, warmheartedness, philia -- (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")
       => feeling -- (the experiencing of affective and emotional states; "she had a feeling of euphoria"; "he had terrible feelings of guilt"; "I disliked him and the feeling was mutual")

Sense 5
softheartedness, tenderness -- (a feeling of concern for the welfare of someone (especially someone defenseless))
       => concern -- (a feeling of sympathy for someone or something; "She felt strong concern for those less fortunate")