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Mercy vs Tenderness - What's the difference?

mercy | tenderness | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between mercy and tenderness

is that mercy is relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another while tenderness is a tendency to express warm, compassionate feelings.

As a proper noun Mercy

is {{given name|female|from=English}}, one of the less common Puritan virtue names.

mercy

English

(wikipedia mercy)

Noun

  • (uncountable) relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another
  • (uncountable) forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
  • (uncountable) A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion
  • (countable) Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
  • A blessing, something to be thankful for.
  • (phrasal) Subjugation, power.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.}}

    tenderness

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • a tendency to express warm, compassionate feelings
  • When the lovers were together, their cold indifference gave way to love and tenderness .
  • concern for the feelings or welfare of others
  • When they saw the poor orphans, they were overwhelmed with tenderness for them.
  • pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched
  • He noted her extreme tenderness when he touched the bruise on her thigh.