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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in leaning
to show a liking or proneness (for something)
her wardrobe tends toward dark colors and heavy fabrics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in supervising
to take charge of especially on behalf of another
tend the store while I run an errand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in managing
to look after and make decisions about
the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tending
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
James Guillory / Imagn Images OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was absent from the team’s Monday morning postmortem, tending to his wife, Emma, after the birth of their second child.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Taking care of business and tending to the parts of your life that need restructuring could bring peace of mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
With more viewers tending to ignore traditional commercials, advertisers are pushing for new alliances that weave their messages and products into programs.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
During the long trek back to Earth, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reminded viewers that appreciating and tending Earth doesn’t require the journey of a lifetime.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Planting a tree or tending to a garden is a simple way for individuals to contribute to the climate fight, Chris Cerveny, a soil science and agronomy expert and co-founder of Just Good Soil, an agricultural company that focuses on regenerative gardening practices, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
His actions have distanced himself from that fanboy narrative — his roster construction technique tending toward risk-aversion to the exclusion of sentimental attachment to the franchise home run leader.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, Rick Monday was minding his own business, tending to center field for the Chicago Cubs in a game at Dodger Stadium.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
For gardeners who have spent years tending beds and borders, the basics can feel like second nature.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
James Guillory / Imagn Images OTTAWA — Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was absent from the team’s Monday morning postmortem, tending to his wife, Emma, after the birth of their second child.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Taking care of business and tending to the parts of your life that need restructuring could bring peace of mind.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
With more viewers tending to ignore traditional commercials, advertisers are pushing for new alliances that weave their messages and products into programs.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
During the long trek back to Earth, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reminded viewers that appreciating and tending Earth doesn’t require the journey of a lifetime.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Planting a tree or tending to a garden is a simple way for individuals to contribute to the climate fight, Chris Cerveny, a soil science and agronomy expert and co-founder of Just Good Soil, an agricultural company that focuses on regenerative gardening practices, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
His actions have distanced himself from that fanboy narrative — his roster construction technique tending toward risk-aversion to the exclusion of sentimental attachment to the franchise home run leader.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Fifty years ago, Rick Monday was minding his own business, tending to center field for the Chicago Cubs in a game at Dodger Stadium.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tending
Adjective
-
About 5 million of the state’s 6 million residents live along the Front Range, which also happens to be the state’s most disaster-prone zone.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Mature cherry trees not only yield delicious fruit but also provide shade for sun-sensitive plants and other areas prone to scorching.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
During the arguments, the justices seemed inclined to find that Trump can’t change the rules for birthright citizenship through an executive order.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Nordic-inclined, open-kitchen Refectory hosts breakfast, lunch, and supper.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tending. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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