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tenderness

tenderness

15 4.5
Pain you feel when an area is sore or sensitive to touch
  • noun
  • /ˈtɛndərnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : dolor a la palpación
  • The doctor noted tenderness in the patient's abdomen, which indicated possible inflammation.
  • pain or tenderness
  • tenderness on palpation
  • tenderness with associated erythema

They may also have swelling, bruising, and tenderness to touch the injured area.

Examples

  • Physical examination revealed occipital muscle tenderness and spasm on the left.

    Academic text (2008)
  • When the injured knee is examined, the athlete experiences point tenderness at the injury site.

    Academic text (2003)
  • The physical examination usually yields point tenderness directly over the fracture site.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Bowel sounds could be heard, and there was no tenderness on palpation.

    Academic text (2010)
  • For example, you would write: Check for swelling, tenderness, and inflammation.

    Academic text (2002)
  • A thorough examination was repeated, and the only positive finding was tenderness in the D8 spine.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The patient also experienced severe myalgia and muscle tenderness, which is typical in 30% of patients with polymyositis.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Mr. Racine has a low-grade fever and is exhibiting tenderness in his lower right calf.

  • A 46-year-old white man presented with facial swelling and tenderness of the left parotid gland.

    Academic text (2005)
  • A 38-year-old woman presented with persistent fever, neck pain, focal tenderness in the left suboccipital area, left otalgia, and photophobia.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

pain
vstenderness
1.0

An unpleasant feeling in the body because of injury or illness

is felt mainly when an area is touched and often shows inflammation
soreness
vstenderness
11 2.3

A painful, tender feeling in a part of the body when touched

is pain felt specifically on touch and often shows inflammation
aching
vstenderness
7 1.1

A constant, dull pain in a part of the body

is felt on touch rather than a long, dull ongoing discomfort
rawness
vstenderness
1 5.5

A painful, sore feeling on the skin or throat

is pain on touch that commonly signals sensitivity or inflammation
painful sensation
vstenderness
4.8

A sharp uncomfortable feeling in the body when something hurts

is felt when an area is touched, not just general acute discomfort

Compounds

rebound tenderness
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Pain you feel when pressure on the belly is suddenly released, often a sign of swelling in the belly lining

How Tender

tenderness
  • Specialized
15 4.5

Surface Forms

tenderness singular
tendernesses plural

Morphology

tenderness = tender (transparent) = tender + ness

Clear nominalization of the adjective 'tender' meaning 'sensitive to touch', producing a noun meaning the state of being tender or sensitivity to pain.

Etymology

Tenderness also comes from the Latin tener, meaning 'soft'. A soft or sore part of the body hurts more when you touch it, so tenderness can mean the pain felt when an area is touched.