1
: a rope or wire stretched taut for acrobats to perform on
2
: a dangerously precarious situation
—usually used in the phrase walk a tightrope
Examples of tightrope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Newsom has walked a tightrope with AI — trying to protect the burgeoning industry while dealing with widespread public opinion polling calling for regulations on AI, even if development slows.
—
Kate Wolffe
february 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
And that is the tightrope the club have chosen to walk.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk is trying her best to walk this tightrope without recognizing that the effort is destined to fail.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
You Will Not Always Be Liked Trying to be liked all the time as a leader is walking a tightrope.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
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Kate Wolffe
february 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
And that is the tightrope the club have chosen to walk.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk is trying her best to walk this tightrope without recognizing that the effort is destined to fail.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026
You Will Not Always Be Liked Trying to be liked all the time as a leader is walking a tightrope.
—Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
Cite this Entry
“Tightrope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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