TENDING Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

tending 1 of 3

adjective

as in prone

having a tendency to be or act in a certain way people tending toward daily exercise will significantly reduce their risk of cardiac arrest

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tending

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of tend

as in leaning

to show a liking or proneness (for something) her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics

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tending

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of tend

as in supervising

to take charge of especially on behalf of another tend the store while I run an errand

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as in growing

to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden

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as in cultivating

to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens

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as in managing

to look after and make decisions about the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tending

Verb

Mason-Clark is a danger man, tending to lurk at the back post. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 Many are turned off by the space requirements of oversized smokers and the hours lost constantly tending to the fire. — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026 Crews remained at the scene Tuesday tending to hot spots, shoring up containment lines and monitoring the area for fire activity, said Cal Fire officials in a morning update. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Video from the location verified by NBC News shows medical staff dressed in white tending to infants in hospital bassinets outdoors. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026 Natalie has built an empire out of baking bread and tending to chickens, becoming mega-famous (and mega-wealthy) in the process. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 His resident mixologist, Lara Vellocido, who started bussing tables, has now been tending the bar for three decades. — Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Cultivating collaboration Wounaan, like many Indigenous peoples of lower central and northwestern South America, emphasize tending to relationships. — Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026 Immigrants make up 47% of workers tending to people in long-term care facilities here, a 2026 report from KFF said. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tending

Adjective

The garage flooded first, followed by two back rooms closest to the field out back that’s prone to flooding.

— Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 18 Aug. 2026
The planes, for example, will cool their heels in the desert of Arizona, where the weather is more hospitable to their corrosion-prone bodies.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of prone

Verb

Filmiki’s Nikolas Alavanos is co-producer with Steve Solomos as supervising producer.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Hartman has worked for Johnson Brothers Maverick beverage distribution company for a few years now, and has experience supervising the bar at The Adolphus Hotel.

— Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of supervising

Verb

Because growing the rice itself is not profitable, even with historic high prices for Japanese rice, the company supports the agricultural costs through side ventures including a restaurant and an ice cream brand launched this summer.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
The deployment of more than 1,500 soldiers to protect Michoacán’s avocado-growing region and recent arrests of people allegedly involved in extortion have eased concerns, but only partially.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of growing

Adjective

Some kinds of trees, such as honey locusts, hackberries, lindens and maples, are naturally more inclined to produce suckers.

— Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Democrats who view the term negatively are less inclined to see their party as effective or strong.

— Anthony Salvanto, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of inclined

Verb

And in its place was the absolute pleasure of watching Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder play their characters perfectly on my favorite show, just a few inches away.

— Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
When videotape arrived, many predicted that watching movies at home would damage theatres.

— Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of watching

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tenders

tending

tending (to)

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“Tending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tending. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tending

adjective

verb (1)

verb (2)

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