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
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Recent Examples of tense
Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Boy Meets World alum Maitland Ward opened up about her recent reunion with former costar Danielle Fishel, which resulted in a tense exchange on the latter’s podcast.
—Meredith Nardino, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
Markham Heid, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
The unidentified caseworker was described in court documents as having his eyes bulging, drooling and his arm muscles tensing during the attack.
—Michelle Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tense
Adjective
Whether the order expresses animus against trans people sparked a tense back-and-forth between Justice Department attorney Jason C. Lynch and U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes during a preliminary hearing in the lawsuit last week.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Boy Meets World alum Maitland Ward opened up about her recent reunion with former costar Danielle Fishel, which resulted in a tense exchange on the latter’s podcast.
—Meredith Nardino, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
For example, progressive muscle relaxation therapy—an intervention that involves systematically tensing and then relaxing the body’s muscles—was found to reduce anxiety and depression in patients with prostate cancer, according to research in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
—Markham Heid, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
The unidentified caseworker was described in court documents as having his eyes bulging, drooling and his arm muscles tensing during the attack.
—Michelle Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tense
Adjective
-
Given his fake news rhetoric, Trump is certainly not worried about media reports, traditionally a strong external check on presidential power.—
Sergei Klebnikov,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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Vistra is in talks with regulators and communities who are worried about how locating data centers next to power plants will affect the electric grid, Burke said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The resolution is seeking $4.5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next 10 years, measures that have met opposition from Democrats and made some Republicans uneasy.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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In my conversations with barbecue people, there was often uneasy tension about whether craft barbecue is something new or a return to an old way of doing things.—
Rachel Monroe,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The Brits handed their prize to Conclave, which feels like the favorite here, too, since the pacing of its papal politicking is as tight as a drum.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
-
As a result of the super cycle, MRO facility capacity — already under pressure, particularly for engines — will remain tight, with long queues and increased turnaround times for aircraft and components.—
Oliver Wyman,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Some Trump advisers were nervous the deal might go south before the ceremonial signing, but felt confident by the time Mr. Trump greeted Zelenskyy.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2025
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Become The Best Operator Of New AI Tools Don’t be nervous about AI.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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These findings should be deeply disturbing to Western policymakers, for at least two reasons.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices is disturbing.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is a taut re-creation of a real event that took place during the Bosnian War, which has unfortunate parallels to our own trajectory.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Along with director Edward Berger, Peter Straughan’s taut adaptation approaches the material with intimacy or big bold brushstrokes as required, crafting juicy roles for one of the year’s most outstanding ensembles.—
Scott Feinberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While many companies rapidly integrate AI, this data reveals a growing disconnect: employees are increasingly anxious about its impact.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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But raising cash remains a challenge for some, with investors anxious about startups courting enough customers for healthy returns, Pershad said.—
Liang Lei,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As Jeffrey’s amateur investigation spirals deeper into danger, he’s forced to confront the unsettling coexistence of idyllic suburban life and brutal violence lurking beneath the surface.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Each weekly episode drop since Valentine’s Day has served up an unsettling number of recognizable love songs (and, soon, the first-ever live musical performance for its March 9 reunion ep).—
Clover Hope,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to tense
Cite this Entry
“Tense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tense. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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