Tenderness, n.
The quality or state of being tender (in any sense of the adjective).
Syn. -- Benignity; humanity; sensibility; benevolence; kindness; pity; clemency; mildness; mercy.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for tenderness; he lists it under attachment, love, mercy, pity.
Where he writes about it:
Kindness and tenderness are personal; benevolence and charity are general. — from benevolence
Tenderness especially goes out toward the young, feeble, and needy, or even to the dead. — from benevolence
Humanity is so much kindness and tenderness toward man or beast as it would be inhuman not to have; we say of some act of care or kindness, "common humanity requires it." Generosity is self-forgetful kindness in disposition or action; it includes much besides giving; as, the generosity of forgiveness. — from benevolence
Synonyms
Antonyms
alienationanimosityantipathyaversionbarbaritybrutalitycoolnesscrueltydislikedistancedivorceenmityestrangementferocityhard-heartednesshardnessharshnesshatredimplacabilityindifferenceinhumanityjusticemercilessnessoppositionpenaltypitilessnesspunishmentrepugnancerevengerigorruthlessnessseparationseveranceseveritysternnesstruculencevengeance