tenderly
/ˈtendəli/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɛndɚli] /ˈtendərli/ (ame, ipa)
tenderly — adverb
1. in a way that shows care, love, or gentleness toward someone or something — for
in a way that shows care, love, or gentleness toward someone or something — for example, holding a baby close, speaking softly to a frightened child, or stroking an old dog's fur.
The nurse held Maeve's grandmother's hand tenderly while guiding her across the room.
used with verbs of physical touch: held + tenderly
Gabriel kissed his daughter's forehead tenderly before tucking her into bed.
used with verbs of affection: kissed + tenderly
Kenji found a frightened stray cat and spoke to it tenderly until it calmed down.
Ayesha patted the old dog tenderly and promised to return the next morning.
- gently
focuses on physical softness or careful handling; lacks the emotional warmth of tenderly
- lovingly
stronger romantic or familial affection; less common with non-personal objects
- softly
focuses on quietness or lack of force; can describe light, sounds, or texture
- affectionately
stresses fondness and warmth, often between people who know each other well
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with verbs of touch (hold, stroke, pat, kiss) and speech (whisper, speak, say). Describes the emotional quality of the action, not just physical softness.