Collocations for tenderness - noun

deep, great
genuine, real, true
surprising

wave
She felt a wave of tenderness sweep over her.

feel, have
reveal, show

with (a) tenderness
He spoke with real tenderness.

tenderness for
She felt great tenderness for him.

tenderness towards/toward

tenderness in sb's eyes, voice, etc.
There was tenderness in his face as he looked at her.