tensed

past tense of tense
as in tightened
to draw tight he tensed his muscles and attempted to lift the heavy appliance onto the truck

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tensed The muffled, percussive sounds of the firing range could be heard through the walls, and my body tensed with every pop. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tensed
tightened
Verb
  • His chest immediately tightened and his arm went numb.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to the tougher test, the agency has resumed neighborhood investigations of citizenship applicants, reinforced background checks and tightened the evaluation of disability waivers.
    Daniel Shoer Roth, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tensed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tensed. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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