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
The filmmakers cut freely and rapidly among the duo’s poses, their stumbles, their fears, their tightrope walks across precarious beams in the sky.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
It was all conducted on a coaching tightrope, because Hurtt emphasized that maintaining Bernard’s confidence is essential.
—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
At times, walking the tightrope between being a journalist and a participant was complicated.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Against this backdrop, the Labour Party has walked a tightrope since being elected in 2024.
—
ABC News,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for tightrope
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Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
It was all conducted on a coaching tightrope, because Hurtt emphasized that maintaining Bernard’s confidence is essential.
—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
At times, walking the tightrope between being a journalist and a participant was complicated.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Against this backdrop, the Labour Party has walked a tightrope since being elected in 2024.
—
ABC News,
21 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tightrope
noun
tight·rope
-ˌrōp 
: a rope or wire stretched tight for acrobats to perform on
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