as in novice
a person who is just starting out in a field of activity
skateboarders who are tenderfeet will inevitably fall as they learn their first moves
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tenderfoot
Smit-McPhee plays a hapless Scottish tenderfoot who teams with Fassbender's conflicted bounty hunter to track down his true love in the American West.
—
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
and Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 21 June 2024
The tenderfoot Americans, with six rookies, eight guys yet to reach 30, and minimal scar tissue, won three of four foursomes in the morning to get to 9-3 and two of four fourball rounds in the afternoon to reach 11-5.
—BostonGlobe.com, 25 Sep. 2021
Once upon a time, the members of a whitetail deer hunting club in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula invited a tenderfoot to their camp.
—The Editors, Field & Stream, 11 Oct. 2020
But even a tenderfoot can easily corral yeast and put it to use, because yeast is everywhere.
—Henry Fountain, New York Times, 7 May 2020
Lazaria Spearman School: Dacula High Class: 2022 Position: Forward
College: Undecided
Noteworthy: The 6-foot-2 tenderfoot averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds per game to help the Falcons to a 26-4 record.
—USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2020
But like a tenderfoot scout who confidently builds a campfire only to end up burning down the forest, Kalanick’s loose management — of his staff and himself — paved the way for a cascade of embarrassing scandals by 2014.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2019
The film stars Robert Pattinson as Samuel Alabaster, a foppishly dressed tenderfoot who shows up on the Oregon territory with miniature horse named Butterscotch, looking to hire a preacher (David Zellner) for a wedding.
—Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 27 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tenderfoot
Noun
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Just kind of a handful or random observations with nothing that even the most novice player doesn't already know.—
Gene McCaffrey,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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The fights, without a doubt, grabbed the attention of novice fans everywhere, but not everyone was a fan of it.—
Ryan Morik,
Fox News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The gently rolling slopes of Elk Camp Meadows are perfect for beginners, with magic carpets for the little ones still figuring out their ski legs.—
Caroline Tell,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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Some of the easiest orchids for beginners are phalenopsis, paphiopedilum, epidendron, oncidium and cattleya.—
Dawn Pettinelli,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Santiago, an apprentice at a barber school, is due back in court on March 10.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Theodoros, the antique shop owner, is desperately seeking an apprentice to help authenticate items... Gift of Odyssey — Log in every day during the event to obtain check-in rewards.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Naturally, that’s the unranked newcomer, Akio (Scott Keiji Takeda): an 18-year-old from a troubled background who, though small by sumo standards, has dreamed of becoming a wrestler since childhood.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2025
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Brunson has since earned the nod twice, this time as a starter in the 2024-25 season alongside newcomer Karl-Anthony Towns.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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UConn’s Ashlynn Shade was the Big East Freshman of the Year in 2024 after winning the weekly honor six times, and Strong’s rookie season has been even more dominant.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
6 Mar. 2025
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He was traded two years later as a minor leaguer for Jonathan Papelbon, made 24 starts as a rookie in 2017 (6.07 ERA) and had a 5.50 ERA in four years with the Phillies when he was traded in August 2020 to Boston for Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article BLOOMINGTON — When Nico Ronchetti arrived at Joliet Catholic as a freshman in 2021, the school had never won a state trophy in wrestling.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2025
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The redshirt freshman has been a consistent bright spot since entering the starting lineup in December, and he’s really rounded into form over the last month.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tenderfoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tenderfoot. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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