1
as in worried
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
was tense about the upcoming bar exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneasy
marked by or causing agitation or uncomfortable feelings
a tense relationship existed between the two teachers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
stretched with little or no give
a tense rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tense
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
That inability to tack on runs made for a tense finish.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 25 July 2025
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tense
Adjective
Meanwhile, the Texans are seeking their first win of the year after falling short of the Los Angeles Rams in a tense and narrow 14-9 opener.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
That inability to tack on runs made for a tense finish.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Taylor Heinicke visibly tensed the moment the ball left his fingers.
—Devon Henderson, Oc Register, 25 July 2025
Keeping in the same position for a long period of time, especially if cramped or uncomfortable, can also lead to muscles tensing up and feeling tight.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
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Small business owners, who rely on social media to promote and sell their products, were especially worried with a busy festive season looming.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
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Parents are worried not just about getting food on the table, but whether that food is good for their kids.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Earlier this year, Stewart admitted the thought left him uneasy.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This stirs an uneasy thought in the astrobiologist’s mind.—
Dirk Schulze-Makuch,
Big Think,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many candidates are re-negotiating their job options given the tight market.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
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One thing to keep in mind is that at 79 inches wide, this bubbly two-seater demands a footprint and can be a bit tight in a very small space, especially when pulled out.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Nearly nine out of 10 institutional investors (89%) are nervous about investing in bitcoin due to its record-breaking growth, fearing losses from buying at all-time highs.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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One new attorney who joined his program started with little knowledge and was nervous about joining.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fortunately, there are straightforward ways to reduce your chances of being confronted with violent or disturbing videos.—
Annie Margaret,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Celebrating the assassination of a 31 year old father of two young kids is disturbing; that teachers would be among those who do so is completely unacceptable.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Like the Danish drama The Guilty and its U.S. remake, the taut feature zeroes in on deskbound people talking on the phone to someone in distress.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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His skin was taut with strength; his rump came right off his back like his father’s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Research in attachment theory tells us that people with anxious attachment tendencies often monitor signs of availability and care in their partners.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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While all of his children enjoy supporting him at his fights, María is the one who gets the most anxious, according to Canelo.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This may be subtle but often unsettling in nature.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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For a story that could be this dark, what a gift to be able to recount some of these things, but with a tone that doesn’t need to be wildly investigative and uncomfortable and unsettling.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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