What does tenderfoot mean?
Tenderfoot means (chiefly Canada, US) An inexperienced person; a novice..
Tenderfoot
Pronunciation varies by accent · noun
Meaning
(chiefly Canada, US) An inexperienced person; a novice..
Definitions by Sense
- (chiefly Canada, US) An inexperienced person; a novice.
- (historical) A newcomer or arriviste to the region in the American frontier (Old West and Wild West).
- (dated) A Boy Scout of the lowest rank.
Example Sentences
Watson had risen so hurriedly that he had not been careful about his “tarp” and water had run into his bed. But that wouldn’t disconcert anybody but a tenderfoot.
"Lavender Cowboy," a pseudo folk song, is a tale of futility. It tells of a tenderfoot "with only two hairs on his chest," whose heroic attempt to prove his manhood results in his death.
Synonyms for tenderfoot
Antonyms for tenderfoot
Related Words
Word Forms
- tenderfeet
- tenderfoots
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for tenderfoot?
Common synonyms include abecedarian, alphabetarian, apprentice, amateur.
What is the opposite of tenderfoot?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use tenderfoot in a sentence?
Watson had risen so hurriedly that he had not been careful about his “tarp” and water had run into his bed. But that wouldn’t disconcert anybody but a tenderfoot.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.