Rose can be very tender (4)
I believe the answer is:
sore
'tender' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'rose can be' is the wordplay.
'can be' indicates anagramming the letters.
'rose' anagrammed gives 'SORE'.
'very' is the link.
(Other definitions for sore that I've seen before include "very much" , "buck" , "Irritated or painful" , "To be very old" , "Feeling pain or informally angry" .)